“Never dull your shine for somebody else,” powerful words spoken by the legendary supermodel, producer, actress, television personality and business mogul, Tyra Banks. The iconic supermodel, made history for being the 1st Black model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated and GQ Magazine. In 1997, she received the VH1 award for “Supermodel of the Year”. That same year, she was the first Black American to grace the cover of the Victoria’s Secret catalog, and became a Victoria’s Secret Angel. She is best known for breaking barriers in the fashion industry and for her influential role as the creator and host of the hit reality TV series America’s Next Top Model. Over the course of her multifaceted career, Banks has established herself as a powerful figure in entertainment, fashion, and entrepreneurship.
Tyra Lynne Banks was born on December 4, 1973, in Inglewood, California. Her mother, Carolyn London (now London-Johnson), is a medical photographer, and her father, Donald Banks, is a computer consultant. Her only sibling, Devin Banks, is 5 years her senior. In 1979, her parents divorced when she was 6 years old.
While growing up, Tyra attended John Burroughs Middle School. By her own accounts, she was teased for her appearance and was considered an “ugly duckling.” By age 11, she had grown three inches taller and lost 30 pounds within a three month span. At age 15, she started modeling during her high school years. She was rejected by four modeling agencies before she was signed by L.A. Models. A year later, she switched to Elite Model Management. In 1991, she graduated from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles.
When she recieved the opportunity to model in Europe, she moved to Milan. Tyra quickly rose to prominence in the early 1990s. In her first runway season, she booked 25 shows during Paris Fashion Week. She appeared in editorials for American, Italian, French, and Spanish Vogue; American, French, German, and Spanish Elle; American, German, and Malaysian Harper’s Bazaar; V; W and Vanity Fair. She became the first Black woman to appear on the covers of both GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was also one of the original Victoria’s Secret Angels, further solidifying her status as a top model during her career peak. She became known for her versatility, grace, and strong work ethic, appearing on runways for designers like Chanel, Valentino, and Versace.
In 2003, Tyra expanded her influence by creating and hosting America’s Next Top Model, a reality competition series that ran for 24 seasons and became a global sensation. The show offered aspiring models the chance to break into the fashion industry while showcasing Tyra’s mentoring abilities and business acumen. She also hosted her own daytime talk show, The Tyra Banks Show (2005-2010), which earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards for its focus on social issues, self-esteem, and body positivity.
In addition to her work on television, Tyra pursued acting, with roles in films like Coyote Ugly (2000) and Life-Size (2000), Higher Learning (1995), and she made guest appearances on several popular TV shows such as The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. She later transitioned into producing and writing, becoming an influential figure behind the camera as well as in front of it.
A dedicated advocate for body positivity and self-confidence, Tyra has often spoken out about the pressures of the fashion industry. In 2011, she completed a certificate program from Harvard Business School, emphasizing her commitment to personal growth and entrepreneurship. She later launched Tyra Beauty, a cosmetics brand, and authored books, including the young adult novel Modelland.
In 1999, Tyra established the TZONE program, which is a series of week-long summer camps for young women aimed to help build self-confidence, to develop leadership and life skills. 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. In 2005, TZONE transformed from a camp into a public charity, the Tyra Banks TZONE Foundation.
Throughout her career, Tyra Banks has continually broken new ground as a trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in fashion and entertainment. Today, she remains a dynamic force, known for her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for empowering women.
Quotes:
“Perfect is boring. Human is beautiful.”
“Never dull your shine for somebody else.”
“Don’t chase the money. Even if you want to be a banker or a lawyer, don’t go into that for the money. Do it for the love of what you want to do.”
“Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It’s about accepting all of yourself.”
“I’m not afraid of my flaws anymore. I owned them.”
“The runway isn’t just about showing fashion, it’s about gaining confidence.”
“I love the confidence that makeup gives me.”
“There’s no excuse for rudeness.”
Sources:
- https://www.biography.com/celebrities/tyra-banks
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyra_Banks
- https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/tyra-banks-quotes
Credits:
Recreate Model: Victoria Hardy
Photographer & Editor of Recreated Photo: Jasmine Mallory
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