Tyra Banks Story

Tyra started her career in modeling, at the age of 15 and by the age of 16, she was signed by the Elite Model Management, which is the largest modeling agency in the world. In the same year, she landed her first print appearance in the ‘Seventeen’ magazine.

Career Highlights

Banks decided to forego college, when Elite offered her an opportunity in Paris as a runway model and was subsequently booked for 25 shows in 1991. She then featured in the advertising campaigns for the ‘Who’s Who’ in the fashion world. She has walked the ramp for the likes of Chanel, YSL, Dior, Donna Karan and many others.

In 1993, she was signed by Cover-Girl and decided to return home to continue her soaring modeling career. She also won the VH1 ‘Supermodel Of The Year’ Award in 1997. Later, Tyra decided to switch to swimwear and lingerie modeling and became the first black American woman to be featured in the ‘Victoria Secret’s’ lingerie catalogue.

She also made her acting debut by appearing in the ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ in 1993 alongside her modeling career and later plunged into the world of reality TV as the producer of her home production ‘AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL’.

In 2008, Tyra won the Daytime Emmy award for production, for The Tyra Banks Show. She is also a judge on the CW’s America’s Next Top Model and at present hosts her own show FABLife.

Reputation

She is known to have a sense of humor like no one else and is also known to inspire teens as being a role model promoting self-expression, ownership and independence.

Personal Life

Tyra’s parents went through a divorce when she was 6. Owing to her tall and gawky structure, Tyra went through some awkward phases when growing up. She was often teased, about her appearance by her classmates and her brother.

Tyra has been romantically associated with musician Seal, director John Singleton and actor Will Smith, and is also known to have dated basketball player Chris Webber from 2001 to 2004.

TV, Books and Movies

In 2011, Tyra published a book titled ‘Modelland’, which is based on her own modeling experience. She has appeared in several music videos one of which is the Michael Jackson’s – Black or White. As a part of her acting career, she has starred in various films like Love Stinks, Coyote Ugly, Halloween: Resurrection and many more.

 

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