Former volleyball player and fitness expert Gabrielle Reece who is married to legendary surfer Laird Hamilton, is making headlines after discussing women being submissive to their husbands on the "Today" show.

Reece, 43 told "Today" show co-host Natalie Morales taht she believes women being submissive in a relationship is a strength as she promoted her new book "My Foot is Too Big for the Glass Slipper."

"To truly be feminine means being soft, receptive, and - look out, here it comes - submissive," the former volleyball star said. "I think because women have the ability to set the tone that the ultimate strength and showing real power, I believe, is creating that environment. I don't think it's a sign of weakness. I think it's a sign of strength," she added.

Reece explained that being submissive is "a form of service."

"He's not saying, 'Dinner on the table at six,''' she said. "We're not talking about that. I'm saying, 'Hey I'll lift up my side, and I'll do it happily,' and also the expectation would be, or the hope would be, that he comes with the same attitude. Is it a form of service? Absolutely. But I think it's the place I can express that part of myself and my personality."

Greece and Hamilton have been married for 17 years. Her new book talks about relationships and family issues. (Read an excerpt here.)Reece's comments stirred mixed reactions from media outlets.

Cosmopolitan criticized her views saying they were "back-asswards ideas about the ideal of heterosexual relationship," while Salon wrote "Up is down. Black is white. And, according to Gabby Reece, submissive is strong."

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