Veteran model Tyson Beckford is dishing out some advice for normal and plus-size women. While the longtime runway and print model reportedly does between 400 to 600 sit-ups and 200 to 1000 push-ups everyday, he’s urging women to love their bodies.
Beckford was down under in Australia at a launch party on Tuesday for his partnership with Monster Headphones. During his visit, Beckford dished on his own lifestyle, his successful career and the changes in the modeling industry to news.com.au
“I think it’s great that we’re seeing a range of women now – it gives encouragement for women to be themselves, to not have to starve themselves to look a certain way,” Beckford said.
“Not every woman is going to be a size zero. The average woman is not a size zero. A zero woman, it’s rare – the majority of the world (is) normal size. We’re not all built the same, and you don’t need to go starve yourself to look a certain way. I’ve worked with plus-size models, Lane Bryant is a brand I’ve done a lot with for many years, their women are great. If you’re happy with the way you look and it’s healthy for you, don’t worry about anything else.”
Beckford himself is a model of a healthy lifestyle and refuses to follow the model diet of “coke and cigarette.”
On his diet and exercise regimen he said:
“I need to have some real food in my stomach. I don’t even drink soda, I don’t smoke, I avoid it all. I eat seafood. I like tuna, I like salmon, I like shellfish. I eat a lot of salads. I’m a big fan of sautéed spinach with garlic, cooked in olive oil – it’s good for you, I like the taste, and I get my iron intake.
“I do four to six hundred sit-ups a day. I do anywhere between 200 to 1000 push-ups each day. I do a lot of running, a lot of cardio, my favorite thing is the skipping rope, and I cycle. I used to always laugh at the guys who would go into shops in bicycle shorts and lycra and I thought, you’ll never catch me in that! But now I’m one of them – I like to put on my tights and go riding.”
Beckford, who has been the subject of many women’s fantasies for over 20 years, saved the best for last:
“We spend so much time saying what beauty is, but no one really knows. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – always has been and always should be.”
