Cindy Crawford calls out Oprah Winfrey for treating her like ‘CHATTEL’ by demanding she show off her body on camera at age 20 to prove she was ‘worthy’ of fame
Cindy Crawford has called out Oprah Winfrey over her 1986 interview, in which the famous TV host asked the then 20-year-old model to show off her body on national television.
The beloved model, 57, opened up about the interaction in new Apple TV+ documentary series, The Super Models, which sees Cindy and fellow ‘supers’ Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington reflect on how they have come to dominate the fashion industry. .
However, before Cindy became a household name, she was introduced to the nation in her very first appearance in The Oprah Winfrey Show alongside her representative from the Elite modeling agency, John Casablancas.
In the clip featured in the documentary, Oprah introduces the stunning young model before asking, “Has she always had this body?” Just stand up for a moment, now this is what I call a BODY.’
Cindy Crawford summoned Oprah Winfrey for a 1986 interview in which the host asked the then 20-year-old model to show off her body on national television.
Cindy, then 20, made her very first appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show alongside her Elite modeling agency representative, John Casablancas.
In the clip shown in the documentary, Oprah is heard introducing the stunning young model before asking: “Just get up for a moment, now that’s what I call a BODY.”
Cindy began to smile nervously as she stood and allowed the audience – and viewers at home – to take a look at her statuesque figure.
Reflecting on how she felt in that moment, Cindy admitted, “I was like a possession or a child, being seen and not heard.
“When you look at it through today’s eyes, Oprah says, ‘Stand up and show me your body. Show us why you’re worthy of being here.”‘
The mother-of-two continued: ‘At the moment I didn’t recognize him and looking at him I was like, ‘Oh my God, that really wasn’t good. ‘Especially from Oprah!’
Elsewhere in the clip, Oprah asked several questions of John who spoke on Cindy’s behalf.
When Oprah asked him if the agency should put the model through a “training period,” he replied, “With Cindy, it was much more psychologically that she wasn’t sure if she really wanted to be a model. .. little by little, his ambition grew.” .
“She’s starting to understand, and I’m saying it now on this show, if she wants to, she can be number one in the business.”
John’s prediction certainly came true, but in the documentary series, Cindy highlighted how hard she worked to achieve it early in her career.
The former House of Style presenter admitted she often passed out from hunger during grueling filming days.
The beloved model, 57, opened up about the interaction in the new Apple TV+ documentary series, The Super Models
Cindy landed her first Vogue cover (pictured) the same year she first appeared on Oprah.
She said: “I was 20, I had dropped out of school to become a model in Chicago and it was great. I was making $1,000 a day.
“The main business there was the catalog. There was a lead photographer, Victor Skrebneski, and he was the big fish in a small pond. Victor was definitely a mentor in the fashion industry, when Victor said don’t move, you didn’t move.
Cindy continued: “I passed out there more than once. Especially right before lunch, you pass out and pass out. And then they would support you and you would start again.
The model’s comments about her Oprah appearance echo those made by fellow star Brooke Shields who spoke last year about her own awkward on-air encounter with Barbara Walters.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Brooke, now 58, criticized Walters for the “probing” questions she asked him when she was just 15 years old.
Brooke – who had just starred in The Blue Lagoon at the time of her interview with Walters – explained: “She asked me what my measurements were and asked me to stand up, and I stand up and she compares herself to this little girl, and I thought, “This isn’t right. I don’t understand what it is.”
“But I just behaved and smiled and felt so taken advantage of in so many ways.
“But over the years, you know, when you’ve been in the public eye and you’ve been commented on all the time, everyone has an opinion, and you can all say it, and now, I think it This is where social media can be dangerous.. Then you learn to say no, this is my truth.
The candid series sees the catwalk icon talk about her game-changing career alongside fellow models Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell.
Cindy’s candid comments about her interview with Oprah offer an intriguing glimpse into the scandals that could emerge from Apple TV+’s new four-part documentary, which charts the rise of women who made millions, dated stars of cinema and consolidated their status as models after this iconic music. video of George Michael’s song, Freedom, in 1990.
This is the first time that the four surviving icons, Tatjana Patitz who died earlier this year of breast cancer, have come together to discuss the phenomenon in depth.
Even though the Apple TV+ series focuses on the exceptional beauty of women, it doesn’t shy away from the more horrific issues they face, like addiction, domestic violence, and racial inequality.
The usually reserved Linda Evangelista is seen in tears and she describes being disfigured by a botched cosmetic procedure.
Meanwhile, the Canadian beauty also shares claims that her ex-husband Gérald Marie abused her during their five years of marriage.
Elsewhere, Naomi Campbell reveals she is in perimenopause after being photographed suffering from a “hot flash” during a photoshoot in the documentary series.
The Super Models is available to stream on Apple TV+ starting September 20.