At 37, Tyson Beckford Battles The 'Stick-thin' Youngsters

There's no respect for age in the cut-throat world of modeling.

So just because you're a runway veteran and one of America's best-loved supermodels, it doesn't mean the up-and-coming stars are going to cut you any slack!

Hanging out by the pool at Hollywood's Roosevelt hotel this weekend, 37-year-old Tyson Beckford told OK! that he has spent the summer shedding a whole load of weight, just to compete with the rookies.

"I dropped 20 pounds by running and just doing cardio vascular stuff," Tyson told us at a party celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Gumball 3000 super-car race.

"I’m just keeping it lean because a lot of the kids coming out now are 22 years old. I’m 37, so I have to drop the weight just to keep up with them.

"You know it’s that stick-figure thing going on."

So is it tougher to drop the weight as a 37-year-old?

"Nah, I’m like a genetic crazy genius," he says, "I can drop it when I want it. I can put it on when I want it. Most 37-year-olds can’t do what I do."

And doing a concert tour with Jay-Z all summer's got to help to keep you in shape as well!

"We’ve been doing fashion mixed with the music so I’ve been walking in the show," he said.

The movie star/model says he's spent a lot of time on the road hanging out with the Jiggaman and his entourage -- around a cooler full of beer!

"It’s like parking lot pimpin'," he says. "Right where they drop the cooler, that’s where the party is."

But apparently there's no sign of Beyoncé, the new Mrs. Z, at the makeshift shindigs.

"The wife hasn’t showed up. I haven’t seen her at any of the shows."