Tyra An OK! Role Model

Tyra Banks has been named Woman of the Year.

The TV presenter was given the accolade by America's OK! magazine for her business sense as well as her position as a role model for women worldwide.

Tyra told the magazine, "I love my curves. I've made millions of dollars with this body. Right now, there are some great things happening. There's America Ferrera, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and myself - women who have curves."

"But I still feel like this skinny image is heralded. It's very confusing for young girls and I'm trying to change that."

Tyra also spoke about the infamous photographs taken earlier this year, which showed her curvy figure in a tight swimming costume and led to her being labelled a "beached whale".

She said, "An average American woman is size 12 (U.K size 16) or 14 (18). So if I look like a 10 (14) or 12 (16) in a picture and someone says I look disgusting, are they saying the majority of America is disgusting? That made me really upset, and that's why I decided to fight back."

Tyra insisted the photographs were taken from a bad angle, and showed off her fabulous figure by wearing a swimming costume on the set of "The Tyra Banks Show".