Bit hypocritical! Cheryl Tiegs admits she has a 37" waist - EIGHT INCHES bigger than size 14 Sports Illustrated star Ashley Graham, whom she labeled 'unhealthy'

Sports Illustrated veteran Cheryl Tiegs has issued yet another apology to size 14 fashion star Ashley Graham - while admitting that she actually has a bigger waist than the style star, whom she labeled 'unhealthy' and accused of helping to 'glamorize full figured women'. 

In an open letter to Ashley published on the Huffington Post, the 68-year-old admitted that she has a 37-inch waist - eight inches bigger than the 29.5-inch measurement listed on Ashley's Ford Models profile - despite insisting just last week that any woman who wants to be 'healthy' should have a waist measuring no more than 35 inches.

However it seems that Cheryl is now eager to backtrack on her initial comments, as well as on the sweeping statements she made regarding Sports Illustrated cover girl Ashley, insisting that she never meant to personally insult the Nebraska native, but that her comments had been blown out of proportion 'by the media'. 

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Hypocrite? Former model Cheryl Tiegs has admitted that she has a 37-inch waist, days after labeling Ashley Graham, whose waist measures 29.5 inches, unhealthy 

Not impressed: Ashley, 28, who walked in the H&M show at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday (left), initially said that she was left 'speechless' by 68-year-old Cheryl's comments about her

Misconception: When criticizing Ashley's cover, Cheryl insisted that it is not 'healthy' to have a waist that is 35 inches or larger, despite now confessing that her own waist is bigger than that measurement - and Ashley's

'I was not equating beauty to weight or size, but unfortunately that is what the media reported in headlines,' she wrote, after accusing the media of trying to 'manufacture a feud' between herself and the style star. 

'I was trying to express my concern over media images and the lack of education in America about healthy choices, thus the reference to the 35-inch waist as a guideline to health.'

She went on to insist that her determination of what a 'healthy' waistline was came from an episode of Dr Oz - and from 'websites such as The Center for Disease Control, Harvard University and The American Diabetes Association'.  

Cheryl then admitted that, despite her bold claims about Ashley - and all other women with a waist that measures more than 35 inches around - 'my waist is 37 inches'. 

The former model finished off her letter by claiming that her initial comments had 'nothing to do with beauty', but were simply her way of showing that she 'cares about healthy and longevity for everyone'. 

But the letter may be too little, too late as far as Ashley is concerned; earlier this week after walking in the H&M Studio autumn/winter 2016 presentation, Ashley told E! News: 'Cheryl Tiegs may have said what she said and it may have hurt a lot of peoples feelings but my skin is so thick. 

Bikini babe: Cheryl, who is pictured on the cover of Saga magazine in 1978, said she didn't like that people are talking about 'full-figured' women because it is 'glamorizing' them 

Not quite an apology: Cheryl first tried to 'clarify' her statement on Twitter last week by explaining that she thinks being too thin is just as unhealthy as being 'overweight' before deleting the tweet 

Second attempt: After deleting her first tweet, Cheryl returned to Twitter to say that she is sorry and just wants 'everyone to be healthy and happy' 

'I kind of rolled my eyes. I was like, "Oh whatever, another one of these ladies". But what's great is that — the fact that she said it — it means that other women think like her. And what that means is that we really need to change the industry.'

She continued: 'There are too many people thinking they can look at a girl my size and say that we are unhealthy. You can't, only my doctor can!' 

Ashley's comments came just days after she admitted that Cheryl's original comments initially left her 'speechless'. 

This is not the first time that Cheryl has attempted to change the public's less-than-positive perception of her criticism, however. Last Thursday, she took to Twitter to try and clarify her statement on body weight, writing: 'Being anorexic/bulimic/overweight all connected to health problems. I want all to be as healthy as they can. [sic]' 

However, after many took offense to Cheryl saying Ashley's curvaceous figure is as unhealthy as an eating disorder, she deleted the post and offered up a new apology.  

'My sincere apologies to everyone I have hurt. I truly just want everyone to be healthy & happy, [sic]' she tweeted. 

Ashley made Sports Illustrated Swimsuit history by becoming the first woman of her size to cover the iconic issue. 

Good advice: Many people took to social medial to slam Cheryl for her comments about Ashley, and after her apology, Erik Roithmayr suggested that she needed to reach out to Ashley to say she's sorry 

Sent message: Alpana Sing reprimanded Cheryl for 'body shaming' Ashley when she could have bee a 'positive force' 

Sharing her experience: Jackie Butara took to Twitter to share her open letter to Cheryl explaining that size has nothing to do with health

However, when Cheryl was at the Global Green USA's 13th annual pre-Oscar party on Thursday when she told E! News that she thought the magazine is promoting figures that are unhealthy by featuring Ashley.

'I don't like that we are talking about full-figured women because it's glamorizing them, and your waist should be smaller than 35 [inches] she said. 'That is what Dr. Oz said and I am sticking to it.' 

'No, I don't think it's healthy,' she continued. 'Her face is beautiful, but I don't think it is healthy in the long run.'

But according to Ford Models, Ashley's waist is a healthy 29.5 inches around, prompting many people to take to social media to slam Cheryl's 'ignorant' comments. 

And while the internet was outraged by Cheryl's words, Ashley admitted that she too was a bit stunned by the former model's assumptions about her.

'You know It is so interesting because Cheryl has been an inspiration because she is a Sports Illustrated girl for so long, and I think what it is doing is proving that beauty does come in all shapes and all sizes, and I applaud Sports Illustrated,' she told Access Hollywood at Sunday night's Vanity Fair Oscar party. 

When asked if she was angered by Cheryl's words, Ashley carefully stated that she thought it was an 'interesting comment'. 

'I was a little speechless when I heard it,' she admitted. ''But you know Cheryl's beautiful, and I wish her the best.' 

Speaking the truth: Ashley, who looked stunning at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party last Sunday, admitted that she was left 'speechless' by Cheryl's comments about her cover 

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It might have been a night all about the actors, actresses and their achievements, but that didn't stop a variety of models storming the after parties. From Lily Aldridge to Alessandra Ambrosio and Ashley Graham, a whole array of stunners were in attendance at the Vanity Fair post-Oscars bash.

Ashley Graham caused a stir recently after being chosen for a cover of Sports Illustrated and she caused just as big a stir on the red carpet too.

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Fit and fabulous: Ashley often shares Instagram photos and videos of herself working out with her trainer

Ashley also confirmed that Cheryl has not reached out to her, and she has no plans on contacting her. 

'I don't feel that I need to reach out to her,' she said, but noted she would be willing to speak with the fellow Sports Illustrated star. 

'If Cheryl wants to have a conversation with me then why not?' she said. 'I am sure we would both have a lot to say.'  

Meanwhile, other celebrities have come to Ashley's defense, including fellow model Kate Upton. 

'Let's empower and support one another! #beautybeyondsize #beautyfadesuseyourbrain cheryltiegs,' she captioned an Instagram photo of Ashley. 

The image, which features a quote from Ashley, reads: 'I know my curves are sexy, and I want everyone else to know theirs are too.  

And Hunger Games actor Jeffrey Wright shared a photo of Ashley's Sports Illustrated cover, writing: 'So yeah, hey, Cheryl Tiegs, 'round my way, this is the very definition of "healthy." #GotThatDictionaryForYa [sic].'

Meanwhile, Cheryl retweeted Twitter user Rusti McCollom's comment that complimented both her and Ashley.

 'Guess that's between them.' Rusti wrote of Cheryl's words. 'Ashley is not fat and Cheryl looks great.'