Tyra Lynne Banks is an American supermodel, television personality, talk show host, actress, businessperson and singer. She became famous first as a model in Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, and New York, but television appearances made her even more so. She is known best as hostess/judge of the reality television show America's Next Top Model since its 2003 debut, and is currently hosting her own Daytime Emmy Award-nominated talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. Banks is one of four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine.
Has an older brother named Devin.
CEO of her own company TYInc.
Named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by people magazine.
In 1994, she started the Tyra Banks Scholarship.
Professional model.
Chosen by People magazine as one of the most beautiful people in the world.
First African-American model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrateds swimsuit edition (Winter 1997). She was captured in a red/pink polka dot bikini by Australian photographer Russel James for the issue that went on to become one of the best-selling covers ever for the magazine.
Is a "Youth Correspondent" for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" , and there is speculation that Oprah Winfrey is training Tyra to eventually take over the show (as of February 2000).
Took Second Place by the readers of Black Men Magazine for "The 10 Sexiest Women of the Year."
Size 9 shoe. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Does not drink alcohol.
Started a singing career with the song "Shake Ya Body", introduced on her show "Americas Next Top Model" .
Ranked 54 on VH1s 100 Hottest Hotties
Claims that her career was difficult in part because of a rivalry with another black top model, Naomi Campbell. Banks has said that Campbell, who was more famous, would get her thrown off of fashion shows.
Paid $30,000 of her own money to finance the music video for her song "Shake Ya Body," which appeared on her show "Americas Next Top Model" .
Created TZONE, a leadership and life skills development program for primarily disadvantaged teen girls in the greater Los Angeles area. As of 2005, more than 240 girls have gone through the program.
Was accepted to UCLA and USC.
Signed with Elite Model Management her senior year of high school.
Her mother, Carolyn London , is a professional photographer, and worked as her manager.
Grew up in Inglewood, California.
Her friends used to call her "The Black Widow" because she used to break up with men she was dating before they would break up with her.
Her mother Carolyn London is her best friend.
Her brother Devins ex-wife and children appeared on an episode of "Americas Next Top Model" when the models are in Japan.
When she was eleven, she grew four inches and lost 30 pounds.
Her older brother Devin tormented her as a child. As adults, the two are friends.
Her parents, Carolyn London and Don Banks , divorced when she was six years old.
Is allergic to dogs.
She and Naomi Campbell reconciled on her talk show, "The Tyra Banks Show" (November 2005).
Received the Michael Award for "Supermodel of the Year."
Was named "Woman of the Year" for 2000 by Sports Illustrated.
Served as maid of honor at the wedding of best friend Kimora Lee Simmons to Russell Simmons
Her first name is Danish, and traces back to the Viking era.
Godmother of Kimora Lee Simmons s and Russell Simmons s daughter Ming Lee
Played as herself in the 1996 Nike commercials with basketball star Anfernee Penny Hardaway and "Little Penny" Hardaway (voice of Chris Rock ).
As a model, she had the following restrictions: - No Frontal Nudity - No Birds - No Cats - No Fish - No Cigarettes - No Alcohol.
As of February 2007, cites "Heroes" (2006/II) as her favorite TV show, and her favorite Heroes character as Hiro, played by Masi Oka.
Says her favorite cycle of "Americas Next Top Model" is Cycle 1, because the girls did not know what to expect.
Chosen by FTC Publications Class-Elite Magazine as "The Role Model for Models" [2007].
She was raised in Inglewood, California with her brother Devin, and attended Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girl, independent Catholic private school in Los Angeles.
One of only two people to ever receive the editors copy of the FTC Publications International Models Guide. The other was Naomi Campbell.
Wore braces for two and a half years to straighten her teeth.
While a high school student, Tyra applied to five colleges with the intention of majoring in film and television production.
Within Banks first week in Paris, other designers were so entranced by her presence on the runway that she was booked for an unprecedented 25 shows--a record in the business for a newcomer.
Attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, California, a popular Catholic girls school, where she claims that her classmates made fun of her because of her height and weight.
One of only four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the worlds most influential people by Time magazine.
In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $18 million.
Until season 4 of "Americas Next Top Model" , she would spend an hour with every girl who got kicked off the show, talking with them in private. The producers asked her to stop this.
She has been an advocate against racism in Hollywood.
To promote the new season of her talk show, Tyra stripped down to a bodysuit to say that her new season is going to be about "celebrating inner and outer beauty". Tyra has always spoken about womens body images and the medias scrutiny of female beauty. She was given a Do Something Award for a celebrity who is doing something good in the world of style.
Has ended her four-year relationship with banker John Utendahl [December 13, 2011].
Attending Harvard Business School [January 1, 2012].
Childhood friend of Kenya Barris , co-creator with Ken Mok and her, of "Americas Next Top Model" .
Received a diploma from Harvard Business Schools Executive Education Program [Februay 23, 2012].
Dropped out of Loyola University, at age 17, to pursue modeling.
Cousin of Nichelle Rodriguez , an acting manager in Los Angeles, with the company, "Inspired Talent Management", whom also owns and runs the film acting camp, "Young Actors Camp", for kids and teens.
The first African-American model to appear on the cover of GQ magazine.
The first African-American model to appear on the cover of the Victorias Secret catalog.
Was in a relationship with Erik Asla from 2013 to 2017. They have a son together, York Banks Asla (b. January 27, 2016).
Childhood friend of Kenya Barris.
Friends with Steve Harvey , Heidi Klum , Will Smith , Rebecca Romijn , Paulina Porizkova , and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self.
I took guitar before . . . well for two months but I remember nothing. My,fingers used to hurt really bad when I played guitar. I stopped because,of it.
I love the confidence that makeup gives me.
There is a difference between desire and desperation.
A smart model is a good model.
Global warming will threaten our crops, so natural food will be scarce. Hourglass, curvy bodies will be the aspirational beauty standard, representing that those women have access to bounties of fulfilling yet healthy food, which means they are affluent.
I love all kinds of bread. Whenever I crave junk food, I want salty things like peanuts or potato chips.
My most difficult class at Harvard Business School would have to be finance.
My mom was a medical photographer, but on the side, she did a before-and-after glam photography business in the house. She would do makeup and hair - and I was her assistant.
Because beauty will be so readily accessible, and skin color and features will be similar, prejudices based on physical features will be nearly eradicated. Prejudice will be socioeconomically based.
When I was a young girl, I lost a lot of weight over one summer - involuntarily - and was just really depressed and sad. There was nothing I could do to gain weight. I would look in the mirror and call myself disgusting every day.
My mom never taught me to be waiting for some prince on a white horse to swipe me off my feet.
