Cindy Crawford recently opened up about a past encounter with Oprah Winfrey, reflecting on her discomfort during a 1986 interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In the Apple TV+ documentary The Super Models, Crawford recounted how Oprah’s request for her to stand up and show off her figure made her feel objectified and diminished. She described the experience as being treated “like chattel or a child,” comparing it to being “seen and not heard.”
At the time, Crawford was only 20 years old, and the interview focused heavily on her appearance, with Oprah making comments about her body in front of the audience. Crawford expressed that, while she did not fully grasp the impact of the moment back then, looking back now, she finds it inappropriate and unsettling. The incident has sparked renewed discussions about the power dynamics in media, particularly how young talent was treated on such platforms.
Despite the awkwardness of the 1986 interview, Crawford has appeared on Oprah’s platform multiple times since, including as a guest on Oprah’s Master Class in 2013. However, her recent reflections bring new scrutiny to past interactions, highlighting how societal attitudes toward personal agency and respect have evolved over the years.
The renewed discussion underscores a broader shift in how public figures address and reevaluate past experiences, particularly those involving power imbalances. This revelation not only sheds light on the pressures Crawford faced early in her career but also raises questions about the treatment of guests in media, both then and now.
