Former Supermodel Named One of the World’s Most Influential Women
If you live in America, (or perhaps anywhere on the globe) you have undoubtably heard of Tyra Banks. You know that 5 foot 10 African American beauty… with eyes so captivating, that just a simple glance from the vixen will leave you lost in translation!
Tyra was born and raised in Inglewood, California, and began her modeling career in 11th grade, while continuing to attend Immaculate Heart High School. She was accepted to both USC and UCLA for a career in television production, proving that she in fact had both beauty and brains.
Soon after high school Tyra traveled to Paris, France, to give runway modeling a try. Never in a million years could her or her mother have predicted the unbelievable amount of success that she would endure. It took just days before designers became utterly entranced by her confident presence on the runway and instantly booked her for a record-breaking 25 shows. Between both runway and print she has done sensational work for Anna Sui, Coors Light, CoverGirl, Badgley Mischka, Bill Blass, Cynthia Rowley, Chanel, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Gemma Kahng, H&M, Isaac Mizrahi, Maria Snyder, McDonald’s, Aislinn Dubois Modeling Agency, Michael Kors, Milk, Nicole Miller, Nike Inc., Oscar de la Renta, Pepsi, Perry Ellis, Randy Kemper, Richard Tyler, Rifat Ozbek, Swatch, Todd Oldham, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret and Yves Saint Laurent. As well as the covers of prominent fashion magazines Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Elle.
Needless to say Tyra had an extremely successful career. She continued to make huge breakthroughs as an African American woman being the first to appear on the covers of both GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Defying odds became Tyra’s signature “thing”. She received VH1’s 1997 award for Super Model of the Year right after she became the very first African American woman to be on the Victoria’s Secret catalog cover.
Right around 1997 Tyra Banks became a household name. She was everywhere! You couldn’t go to a magazine stand without seeing her gorgeous face on multiple covers. She soon became the main star of Victoria’s Secret and the face many associated with the brand.
In 2005 Banks chose to retire from modeling to focus on her original love of television. She announced her departure from the modeling world and that she would indeed take part in her last Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Tyra appeared as Will Smith’s girlfriend on the popular teen television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in which she guest-starred on seven episodes. There was no stopping her. Next, Banks was seen on episodes of Felicity, MADtv, Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘n Out and The Price Is Right. From small roles Tyra started to aim for what she is known for, stardom.
Banks can currently be seen as the hostess, judge and executive producer of America’s Next Top Model on the CW Television Network. She also hosts her own daytime television talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. The program is created for younger women and focuses mainly on the everyday life, relationships and fashion, mixed in with a few popular celebrity appearances.
Due to her overwhelming success on ANTM, the CW gave Banks permission to debut another reality show in October 2008 titled Stylista. The program was based on popular fashion magazines.
Where else may have you seen the fashion mogul? Possibly in one of her numerous big screen appearances in films like Coyote Ugly, Love & Basketball, Higher Learning, Life-Size, Love Stinks or Halloween Resurrection. If you’re a classic music fan you may remember seeing her stunning face in iconic music video’s including: Michael Jackson’s “Black or White”, Tina Turner’s “Love Thing”, Mobb Deep’s “Trife Life”, or George Michael’s “Too Funky”.
In 2004 she decided to gave music a try of her own and released the single “Shake Ya Booty”. Unfortunately, Banks was not as successful at her music career as she was in, well everything else. Regardless Tyra was quoted saying, “Singing has been a passion of mine for a long, long time…six years on the down low – been ducking in and out of studios cutting tracks.”
She even collaborated with NBA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant to sing the track “K.O.B.E”, which the duo performed on NBA TV. Regardless of the critic’s sour response to Tyra’s music, record producer Rodney Jerkins was a fan of Tyra from the beginning and even stated, “she has what it takes to pull it off…she had a hungriness to want to be in the studio all the time,” Jerkins said. “Some people want to be divas in the studio and work for three or four hours. You had to tell Tyra to stop, or she will keep you going. People will be shocked. She can really sing.”
She recently made a guest-appearance in Hannah Montana: The Movie and has been named the Godmother of all three of Kimora Lee Simmons’ children: Ming Lee, Aoki Lee and Kenzo Lee Simmons.
From the start Tyra Banks has proved to be unstoppable. If she puts her mind on something, she will do it. Conceivably one of her most passionate projects is TZONE, a camp Tyra created back in 1999 with the main focus of strengthening and inspiring the self-esteem of young girls. The week-long overnight camp helps teen girls gain control of their lives, while also encouraging the significance of both leadership and empowerment. In 2005 TZONE transformed in a national level charity intended to generate a large “sisterhood” among girls and young women. Whether through community activism, dance, filmmaking, leadership, sports, writing, or as young entrepreneurs – many girls are creating their best futures through TZONE.
Throughout the past decade Tyra Banks has transformed from pinup girl to role model. An extreme feminist, she keeps on promoting girls to be leaders, not followers; in control, not out of control; powerful, not powerless.
“TZONE is not a place – it is a commitment to empower girls to be fierce, focused and in control of their futures,” Tyra said.
The Young Chicago Authors’ corporation supports TZONE and has even said, “TZONE’s support has garnered us prestige, and confirms the importance and interest in funding young women’s programming that includes art and activism, with an emphasis of self-expression and empowerment.”
In 2009 Tyra Banks was named number 5 among the World’s Most Influential Women in media, alongside other well-established female mentors including Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer.
According to Forbes annual list, Banks rolled in 23 million dollars in last year alone.
She in no hypocrite. After being attacked by media for an unflattering bathing suit photo, which claimed the model was fat and even related her to being the size of a whale, Tyra struck back. Weeks later she posed for the cover of People Magazine in a bathing suit and appeared on her show in that very same “unflattering bathing suit” to prove that fat was the last thing that she was, but confident? Yes.
When names such as “Tyra Porkchop” and “America’s Next Top Waddle” were printed largely across countless tabloids and magazine overs Tyra knew she had to stand up for herself. She has worked her entire career enforcing self-confidence and the importance of a healthy body image. The 5′10 starlet jumped on the nearest scale and revealed that her current weight was 161 pounds, only thirty pounds heavier than she was in her famed Sports Illustrated cover that made men around the world go crazy. She has no urge to be pin-thin because that is not her. Bottom line: She is retired from modeling, loves her curves, and is extremely happy.
“I’ve made millions of dollars with the body I have, so where’s the pain in that? If I was in pain, I would have dieted. The pain is not there – the pain is someone printing a picture of me and saying those (horrible) things,” Banks said.
Tyra gained respect world-wide after her strong positive response to media backlash and proved to be the superstar we all know and love.
After already victoriously tackling almost all aspects of the entertainment industry, who knows where Miss Banks will pop up next?
