Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks

Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973) came into prominence as one of the only black supermodels in the world. However, she has transformed her supermodel status into a lucrative career, spanning all realms of media, including a television personality, author, actress, singer, executive producer, and extremely successful talk show host. She first emerged into the covergirl spotlight as a model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and one of the original Victoria's Secret Angels. Early in her career, she was also featured in the racially charged, Higher Learning, directed by Spike Lee.

Recently, she has gone on to host the reality television show “America's Next Top Model” and is also currently hosting her own daytime talk show, "The Tyra Banks Show," on which she made tabloid headlines simply by gaining weight and embracing the change; she has made a publicity campaign out of her weight-gain on her show, trying to be an example for all women to love themselves the way they are: it was inspirational things like this that prompted Time magazine to name her as one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2006.

Early Life

Born in Los Angeles, California, to Donald (Don) Banks and his wife, now divorced, Carolyn Estelle London (1946 -), Banks was raised in Inglewood, California with her older brother Devin (now divorced with children). She attended Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girl, independent Catholic private school in Los Angeles. Growing up, she was very thin and often teased (as models often are); she was considered to be “ugly.” Banks later said that this was a very difficult period for her and she developed a “very strong self-image problem.” Her mother managed her daughter's modeling career and in 1989 established London Photography, a home-based glamour portrait business.

In 1991, Banks was about to begin her freshman year at Loyola Marymount University in Southern California when Elite Model Management gave the 17-year-old her first modeling job. Prior to this entry into the fashion world, Banks had been rejected several times for modeling assignments. In fact, she states that she did not consider her first job to be the start of a long career in fashion: “An agent saw pictures of me and said that I was the only girl she wanted to take back to Paris... I didn't leave thinking I was going to be some big fashion model. I just wanted to make money for junior college.”

Banks was also featured in a 1991 Tina Turner music video for the song "Love Thing."

Modeling Career

Banks' career took with several high profile modeling contracts, most notably the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and Victoria's Secret. In 1996, she was the first black woman to be featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue and appeared on the cover again in 1997. Also that year she won the prestigious Michael Award for Supermodel of the Year. Banks has done runway shows in Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo and the United States, and has been featured in many magazines, television commercials, and billboard advertisements. Her modeling credits include runway and/or print work for Cover Girl, Swatch, Pepsi, Nike, Inc., XOXO, LensCrafters, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint-Laurent, Chanel, Escada, Anna Sui, Michael Kors, Liz Claiborne, and Richard Tyler (designer). Banks has appeared on many international magazines, including the covers of Vogue, Elle, Amica, Ellegirl, L'Officiel, Harper's Bazaar, Photo, Cosmopolitan, Essence, and Sports Illustrated.

Body Image

Banks stood out from the waif-like models popular at the time, and had to work hard to persuade modeling agencies to take a chance on her more voluptuous physique. At the time of her prominent modeling opportunities, she reportedly weighed approximately 140 pounds. To give herself more options, Banks decided to branch out from high fashion into the commercial fashion industry. She later commented: " I told my agency to call Victoria's Secret, and I told them to call Sports Illustrated... I said [that] my body is changing, and seamstresses are calling me 'grosso' in Italian, and I know what the hell that means. And I'm not about to starve."

Banks addressed her physique in an interview with The Sun, saying, "I am totally against plastic surgery. A lot of people think I have breast implants because I have the biggest boobs in the business. But I was a 34C when I was 17. They stay up when I wear a push-up bra. But if people could see me when I come home and take off my bra, how could they think these are fake?" She is known for being proud of her curvaceous body, and once commented, "Some models are flat-chested so they can run around without bouncing. I can't. Black women don't have the same body image problems as white women. They are proud of their bodies."

Pictures of Banks in late 2006 showed a significant weight gain; Banks said that she was "upset" when rude comments were posted on a gossip website. Because of this, Banks went to People magazine to discuss the weight gain and people's expectations of her; she also dealt with the issue on the February 1, 2007 episode of “The Tyra Banks Show.” On that episode, Banks wore the same bathing suit in the photo to show that the reason why she looked so fat was because of the angle of the photo and angle of her waistline. She later appeared on “Larry King Live” to talk to King about the news. Fans of shock jocks Opie and Anthony and Jim "Monster Rain" Norton, known as Pests Out West, posted a sign calling Banks a "Fatty Pig Fatty" outside of her studio in California. The National Enquirer has begun referring to Banks as "Spare Tyra" (a pun on spare tire).

According to People's Galina Espinoza, she has resigned herself to putting on about five pounds a year. However, at that rate Tyra would weigh a morbidly obese 316 pounds at the age of 65.

Other Media Opportunities

Despite her phenomenal success as a supermodel, Banks began venturing from modeling to becoming a media personality after 2000. She is the hostess, head judge, and an executive producer of the UPN (now the CW) television show “America's Next Top Model.” Banks also enjoyed a brief stint as a recording artist. During season two of “America's Next Top Model,” the contestants danced in her first music video for the single “Shake Ya Body” produced by experienced record producer Darkchild.

Banks retired from modeling in May 2005 to concentrate more on her television show. She walked the runway for the final time at the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Television Career

Banks' television career began on the fourth season of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” in which she played Jackie Ames, Will Smith's ex-girlfriend. She also appeared on “Felicity.” She once starred in an episode of “MADtv.” Banks has also starred as the fictitious brought to life doll, Eve, in the Disney film Life-Size, along side Lindsay Lohan. She also appeared on Nick Cannon's “Wild 'N Out,” as a special guest host and team captain. She was also a Barker's Beauty on the game show, “The Price Is Right,” acting as one of the spoke models that assist Bob Barker with the prizes.

She is now the executive producer, host and head judge of the hit television show “America's Next Top Model.” She also currently hosts “The Tyra Banks Show,” a daytime talk show which premiered on September 12, 2005 and recently began its second season. The show now draws over 1.9 million viewers. The show features stories about everyday people mixed in with celebrity interviews, much like the early format of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” with Oprah Winfrey. Under the slogan "Every woman has a story," Banks promotes her show using emotional flashbacks to her own childhood and adolescence. Many of the episodes deal with issues facing women today.

Music Career

Banks appeared in several music videos including Tiara Summers's "Wild Girls," Michael Jackson's "Black or White", and in George Michael's "Too Funky" (with fellow supermodel Linda Evangelista).

In 2004, she recorded her first single, "Shake Ya Body,” which had a music video featuring the “America's Next Top Model, Cycle 2” contestants. The video had its world premiere on UPN, but the single was a failure for Banks. On her show, she commented to Carmen Electra, "Girl, that makes the two of us with music videos that people didn't like."

Though "Shake Ya Body" was a failure, record producer Darkchild told JET in 2004 that Banks "has what it takes to pull it off...she had a hungriness to want to be in the studio all the time. 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." As for her voice: "People will be shocked. She can really sing, she's like between soprano and high alto. I challenged her vocally. I pushed her, but not too far. I pushed her where vocally it fit the track."

Banks released a single with NBA star Kobe Bryant, titled "K.O.B.E.", which was performed on NBA TV, and had a single/soundtrack from the Disney movie Life-Size called "Be A Star." She also sang in the musical/movie "Eight Crazy Nights." Banks also sings the Top Model theme song and has a song called "Baby" which has been leaked on the internet.

Movie Career

Banks has had minor roles in a few movies over the years. Her debut in movies came in 1995 when she co-starred in the critically acclaimed drama Higher Learning along with Omar Epps, Jennifer Connelly and Ice-Cube. She also co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in the Disney film Life-Size, playing a doll named Eve who comes to life. She also co-starred in 1999's Love Stinks, 2000s Coyote Ugly, alongside Maria Bello, and 2002's Halloween: Resurrection – the eighth film in the Halloween franchise.

Personal Life and Media Attention

Tyra continues to address fat acceptance on her show, most recently hiring plus-sized actress Danielle Fishel as a special correspondent in February 2007. Banks has vowed to not allow digital retouching of any future photographs of herself; rather, she will rely solely on makeup and hairstyling to enhance her appearance.

She suffers from extreme delphinophobia, the fear of dolphins, which she disclosed in her daytime talk show. She later admitted in an online chat interview that she hadn't fully conquered this phobia. Conversely, Banks has expressed her ardent enthusiasm for the cosmetic uses of Vaseline.

Banks works as a motivational speaker for young girls and a photographer in her spare time.

Banks has been romantically involved with director John Singleton, investment banker Craig Davis, basketball player Chris Webber, and musician Seal who is now married to fellow supermodel Heidi Klum), although she claims that she prefers to date non-celebrities, as she strongly dislikes the media scrutiny that comes with being in a relationship with another famous person. She is currently single.

Banks has always wished to become a mother, but her professional life has not allowed her to have children. She has said that she needs to be in a place in her life where she is prepared for such a big step.

Body Image Controversy

When Banks was at the height of her supermodel stardom, she stood out from the waif-like models popular at the time, and had to work hard to persuade modeling agencies to take a chance on her more voluptuous physique. At the time of her prominent modeling opportunities, she reportedly weighed approximately 140 pounds. To give herself more options, Banks decided to branch out from high fashion into the commercial fashion industry. She later commented: " I told my agency to call Victoria's Secret, and I told them to call Sports Illustrated... I said [that] my body is changing, and seamstresses are calling me 'grosso' in Italian, and I know what the hell that means. And I'm not about to starve."

Banks addressed her physique in an interview with The Sun, saying, "I am totally against plastic surgery. A lot of people think I have breast implants because I have the biggest boobs in the business. But I was a 34C when I was 17. They stay up when I wear a push-up bra. But if people could see me when I come home and take off my bra, how could they think these are fake?" She is known for being proud of her curvaceous body, and once commented, "Some models are flat-chested so they can run around without bouncing. I can't. Black women don't have the same body image problems as white women. They are proud of their bodies."

Pictures of Banks in late 2006 showed a significant weight gain; Banks said that she was "upset" when rude comments were posted on a gossip website. Because of this, Banks went to People magazine to discuss the weight gain and people's expectations of her; she also dealt with the issue on the February 1, 2007 episode of “The Tyra Banks Show.” On that episode, Banks wore the same bathing suit in the photo to show that the reason why she looked so fat was because of the angle of the photo and angle of her waistline. She later appeared on “Larry King Live” to talk to King about the news. Fans of shock jocks Opie and Anthony and Jim "Monster Rain" Norton, known as Pests Out West, posted a sign calling Banks a "Fatty Pig Fatty" outside of her studio in California. The National Enquirer has begun referring to Banks as "Spare Tyra" (a pun on spare tire).

According to People's Galina Espinoza, she has resigned herself to putting on about five pounds a year. However, at that rate Banks would weigh a morbidly obese 316 pounds at the age of 65.

Charity Work and Activism

Banks also acts as the patron for TZONE, a leadership program created by Banks for young girls that according to the organization, "reinforces core values of trust and support, challenges teen girls to resist negative social pressures, and enhances self-empowerment—inspiring girls to become confident leaders in their communities." She has also established the Tyra Banks Scholarship, a fund aimed at providing African-American girls the opportunity to attend her alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School.