Tyra piles on the pounds



Tyra Banks is used to provoking a strong reaction with her appearance, but nothing from her catwalk days could have prepared her for the response when she donned a fat suit. The supermodel turned talk show host piled on the pounds in a TV exposé of discrimination against the obese and was stunned by the results.

Make-up and prosthetics were applied to turn the former Victoria's Secret lingerie model into a 25-stone woman. After acquiring the extra weight, Tyra hit some of Los Angeles' trendiest locations and was shocked by the open abuse that she received.

"It was one of the most heart-breaking days of my life," said the beauty, who presents an eponymous lifestyle and beauty programme. "Within 10 seconds, a trio of people snickered, looked me right in my eye and started pointing and laughing in my face."

It's the latest in a string of stunts by the talk show host, who recently had an on-air scan to prove that her breasts are real. Later this month Tyra plans to show a feature on having "a beautiful booty," during which she'll strip for an anti-cellulite massage.