Style

Tyra Banks on why feud with Naomi Campbell ‘wasn’t a rivalry’

Tyra Banks is once again opening up about her former feud with Naomi Campbell.
The 45-year-old “America’s Next Top Model” host once had a very competitive relationship with the 49-year-old super in the ’90s, although as she clarified to the Wall Street Journal in a new video, “It wasn’t a rivalry, and I’m very sensitive to that word because a rivalry is with two equals to me, whereas one was very dominant.”

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover star explained, “She was a supermodel and I was just some new girl that got on a plane from Paris, and was studying fashion in magazines at a fashion library. I had a very painful early days in Paris. As much as I was booking every single fashion show, people didn’t know I was going home at night crying my eyes out because a woman that I was looking up to seemed like she just didn’t want me to be there, and was doing everything in her power to make me go away.”
“And I didn’t understand that as a young girl,” Banks continued. “Like why is she doing this? This is so evil! This is so awful. The adult me understands that she was reacting to an industry that was all about a token … But when I came on the scene — Naomi, look out! There’s a black girl that’s going to take your spot … Only one spot available.”
The two models have since put their misunderstandings to rest. In 2005, Banks invited Campbell on her talk show for an hourlong discussion about the feud before ultimately reconciling.