Banks addresses 'Top Model' controversy

Tyra Banks has spoken out about the criticism that followed a recent episode of America's Next Top Model, says Access Hollywood.

The CW show hit the headlines after an episode last month showed the remaining contestants being told to adopt two different nationalities for a photoshoot in Hawaii.

Banks was later accused by some outlets of putting the models in blackface.

Speaking on her chatshow yesterday, she reportedly said: "I want to be very clear. I, in no way, put my top models in blackface. I'm a black woman. I am proud. I love my people and the struggle that we have gone through continues and the last thing that I would ever do is be a part of something that degraded my race."

She went on to reiterate that the shoot had been inspired by the Hawaiian history of different cultures coming together and suggested that some people had "read the headlines" but not "taken the time to read the facts".

"I'm sorry to anybody that... was offended by the pictures because they didn't understand the real story behind them or even if you did see the whole episode and you were still offended," she added.

"I truly apologise because that is not my intention. My intention is to spread beauty and break down barriers."

> Click here for our recap of this week's America's Next Top Model finale