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Winnie Harlow defends her controversial ANTM comments

The model has cleared up all those 'shade' rumours

Winnie Harlow has released a statement, clearing up her comments about America’s Next Top Model, and rumours that she doesn’t get along with host Tyra Banks.

Back in May, the model appeared on Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen, where she claimed that ANTM “really didn’t do anything” for her career, and that major photographer Nick Knight actually helped get her modelling career moving after the show.

Then just last week, the show’s host Tyra appeared on WWHL to address Winnie’s claims live on air.

Tyra said, “I discovered her on Instagram and she [was] on this show, so what do you think that means?” before adding, “I have nothing but love for my girls. And my girls come from so many walks of life and so much pain and so much hardship and so much story.”

“And a lot of times when people express themselves in certain ways, there’s a reason,” she continued. “And I will respect her confidentially and her life but I have to give love to her.”

“They’re all my babies, they’re all my babies, even the ones that act out are still my babies.”

After Tyra’s comments hit headlines, fans accused Winnie of being “ungrateful” and “throwing shade” – but the model has since cleared up the rumours by releasing a statement on Instagram.

She wrote: “It has nothing to do with being ungrateful, and more over [sic] nothing to do with ‘shade’ to Tyra. She was the first person of higher status to make me feel like I could be a model and not only am I grateful for that, it’s something I’ll never forget.”

 

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“After being on the show no one would book me and no agency would sign me because of the Reality Tv stigma,” she said. “Once I realized that, I stopped talking about it and grew my work base in Europe.”

Winnie went on to explain that while she was abroad, she was more widely recognised for starring in the Spanish clothing brand Desigual’s campaigns.

“That was when I realized you could be successful off the show in some ventures, but I had never really seen a Top Model in the fashion industry off the show,” she continued.

“I understand people know me and have seen me on ANTM, but I never really talk about it because my goal is to always be honest but never to bash anyone’s empire.”

Winnie on ANTM

“It’s just difficult to get around questions I usually would avoid, on a live show. My truth is, I stand by what I said and I say it because I don’t want girls thinking it’s a jump start to a modelling [sic] career because of me.”

“I learned that the best thing to do to become a model and to be taken seriously is to take plain head shots and find a reputable modelling [sic] agency.

“I’m always grateful for every experience I have to learn and grow, but I also want to be real with young guys and girls whose dreams are to become models,” she added.

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