'America's Next Top Model' presenter Tyra Banks has hit back at media attacks over her recent weight gain.
The model and chat show host has said that she was hurt by headlines such as "America's Next Top Waddle", "Tyra Porkchop" and "Tyra Banks is Fat".
A number of unflattering photographs of the supermodel in a swimsuit on a beach in Australia were also circulated on the Internet.
Responding to the reports, Banks told People magazine that she was hurt by the comments that were made about her.
She said: "It was such a strange meanness and rejoicing that people had when thinking that was what my body looked like. It was really hurtful to me."
"I get so much mail from young girls who say, 'I look up to you, you're not as skinny as everyone else, I think you're beautiful'," she said.
"So when they say that my body is 'ugly' and 'disgusting', what does that make those girls feel like?"
