[A.j. Hammer, Showbiz Tonight:] Now, on a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "SHOWBIZ Reality Secrets: Fashion Frenzy." Tonight, fashion legend Tyra Banks reveals all the surprising secrets behind her "Top Model" empire.
[Tyra Banks, "america`s Top Model":] You know, "Top Model" is very difficult. You know, people watch it on TV and then they go, "Oh, I want to be on the show so badly." And then they come on the show and they`re like, "This is fabulous. Look at this house, wow." And then they get a photo and are like, "It sucks."
[Hammer:] Tyra Banks in a must-see SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. A top fashion insider who worked with Cindy Crawford reveals the secrets behind the creation of a TV supermodel. Plus, big fashion drama. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exposes how reality fashion shows deal with all of those huge personalities stuffed into those tiny dresses. A special digs addition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "SHOWBIZ Reality Secrets: Fashion Frenzy," starts right now.
[Banks:] "America`s Next Top Model is Jaslene!
[Jaslene Gonzalez, Winner, Season 8, "america`s Next Top Model":] Oh my God, Tyra, thank you! Oh my God!
[Bank:] I think the reason why "Top Model" has been on for so long is that I push my team and my team pushes me back. You know, so I`m like, that`s the same. What can you do? I call it, "Add a layer." Give me a layer to make it different. What are people going to be talking about tomorrow at that water cooler at work or what are they going to be twittering about? Give me those moments. So I push my team, my team pushes me. Tyra, no, that`s boring. Or, no, that is not interesting. So, you know, we are hard on each other and I think that`s why we`re like cycle, what is this, 18.
[Unidentified Female:] Maybe I am angry inside! I have been through stuff! So I`m angry!
[Banks:] Be quiet Stop it!
[Kareen Wynter, Showbiz Tonight Correspondent:] Reality TV, Tyra, these days, it gets such a bad rap. And a lot of it is scripted, staged. Is any of that for "America`s Next Top Model"?
[Banks:] No. See, it is kind of hard to watch reality TV a little bit because I can see what other shows are doing, you know, in terms of scripted or in terms of something in TV that we call "coverage." It`s like, here`s a shot here, then there`s a close-up and then there`s a wide shot, and then there`s all this. And I know in order for that scene to have been shot that way, the lines had to have been said five times. So I know those tricks, so sometimes it is kind of hard for me to watch reality TV. And then I get a little jealous. I`m like, dang, their coverage is all gorgeous and here we are chasing a girl out of the room crying. And we might have missed it because she slammed a door in my cameraman`s face and is in the bathroom and that is off-limits. So you know, so it`s like, it gets me a little jealous that these other shows get more coverage.
[Unidentified Female:] Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
[Banks:] Why are you screaming so loud?
[Unidentified Female:] Because you are so pretty!
[Wynter:] So you give them that very big break where they go through the door. But how is it when they enter the fashion industry? Is it any easier? How are they received?
[Banks:] You know, "Top Model" is very difficult. People watch it on TV and then they go, "Oh, I want to be on the show so badly." And then they come on the show and they are like, "This is fabulous, look at this house, wow." Then they get a photo shoot and are like, "It sucks." And they`re like, whoa. Hearing that, versus seeing somebody else being told it on television, is two totally different things. So they start feeling that critique, and it is not so nice. And then say they either get very far or don`t, but still enter the real fashion industry. It is worse. What your agent is telling you is worse than anything on "Top Model." I have certain rules of things that a judge can and cannot say to a girl on "Top Model."
[Unidentified Female:] I talk probably almost at this level like when I am sitting at home.
[Banks:] Have you ever had your hearing tested? Do you think that might have something to do with it?
[Unidentified Female:] Pardon?
[Banks:] But when you go into the real world, they will say, your butt is too this,
[Wynter:] And you have been a target yourself of the media. So how do you stay grounded and be who you are but not be bashed?
[Banks:] I was put on covers of all of these magazines, "America`s Next Top `Waddle,`" and "Tyra `Shanks,`" I think it was?
[Wynter:] It was really hurtful.
[Banks:] Yes, most well, when I first read it, it wasn`t that hurtful. And then I had a lot of people coming up to me and saying that it hurt them. And if they were calling me fat, then that means that they are what are they, because they are either my size or bigger. So I have something to all of you that have something nasty to say about me or other women that are built like me, women that sometimes or all the time look like this, women whose names you know, women whose names you don`t, women who have been picked on, women whose husbands put them down, women at work, or girls in school, I have one thing to say to you, kiss my fat ass!
[Wynter:] You were such a superstar before "America`s Top Model." You still are, but your star just keeps getting bigger. Do you sometimes
[Banks:] I want it to get less.
[Wynter:] You want it to get less? Why is that?
[Banks:] Yes.
[Wynter:] Because you are so ambitious and there is always something you`re looking to tackle, so that`s surprising to hear.
[Banks:] I want the star of me to you know, I don`t want to really push that so much. I really want to build my business.
[Hammer:] And you can check out the finale of "America`s Next Top Model" when it airs this Wednesday on The CW. So exactly how do Tyra and all the other reality fashion shows find "America`s Next Top Model"? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is blowing the lid off of reality TV`s best hidden fashion secrets. How a fashion superstar is discovered.
[Michael Flutie, Talent Scout:] My name is Michael Flutie. I have spent my whole entire career scouting and developing models, Cindy Crawford, Milla Jovovich, Stephanie Seymour.
[Hammer:] I cannot wait to show you the secrets to finding the next Gisele Bundchen. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing more startling fashion reality secrets. The genius behind megabrand, Baby Phat, telling all about how she ran a fashion empire right in front of the reality TV cameras. I`m going one on one with style star Kimora Lee Simmons. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "SHOWBIZ Reality Secrets: Fashion Frenzy." Tyra Banks grills a super skinny contestant on "America`s Next Top Model."
[Unidentified Female:] I`m Anne and I`m from
[Banks:] You have the smallest waist in the world. Look at this waist, and how tall are you?
[Unidentified Female:] I am 6`2".
[Banks:] There is something about her that I like.
[Unidentified Male:] She is going to make Miss J eat Tic Tacs and watercress for the rest of the season.