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Tyra Banks

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Tyra Lynne Banks is a prominent American model, television personality, producer, writer, and actress.

Tyra Banks 1995
Tyra Banks 1995

She is recognized for achieving supermodel status, a rare distinction for Black models. Banks broke significant barriers in the fashion industry through her visibility. She was the first African American woman to appear on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She appeared on the Sports Illustrated covers three times in total.

Tyra Banks(Cannes)
Tyra Banks(Cannes)

Her success in modeling eventually transitioned into a massive career in media and business.

Her journey into modeling began at age 15 while attending high school in Los Angeles. The process was not immediate, as she faced rejection from four different modeling agencies. She eventually signed with L.A. Models before moving to Milan to pursue opportunities in Europe. During the 1991 Paris Fashion Week, she demonstrated her skill by booking 25 runway shows. She worked with major fashion houses such as Chanel, Christian Dior, and Versace. Between 1997 and 2005, she served as a Victoria's Secret Angel.

Tyra Banks 2012 Shankbone
Tyra Banks 2012 Shankbone

In 2024, she returned to the runway to walk for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show as the closing model.

Banks expanded her influence through television and film acting. She began on television with a role in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1993. Her film career included roles in the drama Higher Learning and the Disney film Life-Size. She also appeared in the box-office hit Coyote Ugly and the horror film Halloween: Resurrection. Her television credits also include appearances in Gossip Girl and Glee. These roles allowed her to showcase her versatility beyond the fashion runway.

As a producer and host, Banks created influential media content. In 2003, she launched the reality series America's Next Top Model. She served as the executive producer and presenter for twenty-two seasons. The show ended its original run in October 2015, but she returned as an executive producer for its 2016 revival. She also hosted The Tyra Banks Show from 2005 to 2010. This daytime talk show earned two Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Talk Show Informative. She later hosted America's Got Talent and Dancing with the Stars.

Banks has also established herself as a successful author and entrepreneur. In 2011, she published the young adult novel Modelland, which was inspired by her modeling experiences. The book reached the top of The New York Times Best Seller list. She later co-authored the book Perfect is Boring with her mother, Carolyn London. In the business sector, she founded the cosmetics brand Tyra Beauty. To prepare for this venture, she completed a nine-week non-degree extension program at Harvard Business School.

She also launched the ice cream brand Smize & Dream in 2020.

Her personal history includes significant milestones and challenges. Born on December 4, 1973, in Inglewood, California, she grew up with her brother, Devin. She has shared that she was once teased for her appearance as a child. However, she experienced a significant physical change at age 11, growing three inches and losing 30 pounds in three months. Regarding her heritage, she has noted through DNA testing that she is 79% African, 14% British, 6% Native American, and 1% Finnish. In her personal life, she has spoken about her struggles with infertility during attempts at in vitro fertilisation.

Throughout her career, Banks has maintained a high level of cultural impact. She is one of only four African Americans and seven women to be repeatedly ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine. Additionally, she is one of only seventeen models ranked as a Legendary Supermodel by MODELS.com. Her work spans multiple industries, including fashion, film, literature, and food. This diverse portfolio demonstrates how a career in modeling can evolve into a broad influence on global culture.

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File:Tyra_Banks_1995.jpg
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File:Defense.gov News Photo 031219-F-0464D-071.jpg
Defense.gov News Photo 031219-F-0464D-071.jpg
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