Celebrity Body by Tyra Banks: Then & Now The supermodel speaks out to PEOPLE about her weight and her changing look since the runway days By People Staff Published on January 24, 2007 12:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 01 of 07 SPOT ON Pierre Vauthey/Corbis In her first season of modeling, Tyra Banks, 18, walks for Yves Saint Laurent in Paris at this '92 runway show. Says Banks, "I was very thin, naturally. I wasn't aware of any body pressure at this point, oh no." 02 of 07 'SPORTS' APPEAL The first African-American model to land the cover of the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, Banks graces the cover a second time in 1997. During the shoot, "I thought I was big; I remember thinking, 'Oh my gosh, my breasts are getting bigger, my hips,'" recalls Banks. "Then the pictures came out (and were great), and I felt insane." 03 of 07 TAKE A BOW ANDREA RENAULT/GLOBE Banks struts down the catwalk for the last time at the '05 Victoria's Secret fashion show. "My retirement!" says Banks. "I ate differently before then, but I really can't do the dieting. Even backstage at the fashion shows, there would be food. Some models would eat it, some wouldn't – I would always grub on it!" 04 of 07 FIRST RESPONSE FAME Addressing for the first time the unflattering tabloid photos taken of her in a one-piece bathing suit in Sydney, Banks says the headlines were "really hurtful." At 161 lbs. today, Banks is 30 lbs. heavier than when she was modeling, but she says it's important to her to tell girls that this photo "is not ugly." 05 of 07 TEAM TYRA Dave Allocca/Getty With her mom (and former manager) Carolyn in 1997, Banks says that "with all the self-esteem my mom instilled in me, (the criticism) still hurts." 06 of 07 ALL BUSINESS Jim Spellman/Wireimage Transitioning from supermodel to TV host, Banks dresses for the occasion in her version of the power suit at former network UPN's upfront event in '05. But the former model still sees herself with a critical eye: "I don't like the angle of the (photo), it's making me look shorter." 07 of 07 MODEL STANDARDS BILL INOSHITA/Landov On the set of her hit show America's Next Top Model, Banks dismisses talk that she has to have the right kind of body to give advice to aspiring models on her show. "You have to be thin to be a model – I don't have to live up to that model standard anymore."