One of the iconic Black supermodels of 1990s who broke boundaries while gracing magazine covers and runways, Tyra Banks is a major part of the fashion industry. Born in the 1970s, Tyra was a staple of the ‘90s. And of course, who can forget her impact on reality TV with the controversial show “ANTM”? Today, she’s known for more than just being a supermodel. Her strong work ethic and personality have helped her build an empire.
In an interview with “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit”, she spoke of the importance of representation for other little girls who looked like her, hoping that she would make African-American children feel more beautiful in a world with unattainable beauty standards. Although the Tyra Banks transformation has been a major one, she’s still stayed true to herself through the entire journey.
A healthy childhood
As a kid, she maintained a healthy level of physical activity and never smoked. She also had a healthy appetite for food. As a child, her role model was Angela Black, a Black news anchor who was on TV in a prominent position, showing Banks that anything was possible. Although her childhood was filled with love, she also experienced bullying at school due to her tall and skinny body type.
Early career success
Those bullies would regret their words soon after when Banks signed a contract with Elite Model Management at the young age of 17. The high fashion world fell in love with her, and Banks ultimately moved to Paris to get more work, booking a whopping 25 runway shows in 1991. She said it was her sassy walk that helped make her so desirable.
Unfortunately, when she started gaining work, she had to move back to the US for more job opportunities. That’s ultimately how she got into swimsuits and lingerie – curvier girls simply weren’t on the couture runway. In 1993, she earned a contract with CoverGirl, cementing her supermodel status.
The first Black woman on “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition”
In 1997, Tyra Banks made history by being the first solo African-American female to get her own “SI Swimsuit” cover. The same year, she became a Victoria’s Secret Angel and even was honored with wearing their famous Fantasy Bra in 1997 and 2004. Banks revealed that when she auditioned to be an Angel, the hairdresser messed up her hair, which almost ruined her chances.
An acting career in the cards
This multi-talented queen proved that she wasn’t just a pretty face when she landed her guest role on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. It was there that Tyra discovered her love for acting. Along with booking high-profile roles in movies like “Life-Size”, “Coyote Ugly” and “Love & Basketball”, Banks still managed to keep her modeling career going. She also featured in several famous music videos and made cameos in TV shows.
She transformed the world of reality TV
After starting “America’s Next Top Model”, Banks used her platform to find models who didn’t always fit the mold of the fashion industry. The show was a vessel for self-love, even though it did have its controversial moments, like when she berated and humiliated various girls on set. Although the show did have its problematic moments, it did create more diversity in the modeling world.
The “Tyra Banks Show”
She was ready to become the next Oprah in 2005 when her daytime TV show came out. On the show, she talked to the crowd, interviewed celebs, and taught the audience how to burp. There was that famous moment where she wore a swimsuit on stage — a swimsuit that paparazzi shot her in for an unflattering photo. She used it as an opportunity to discuss body image. Apart from hosting the show, Banks worked as a producer for both this show and “ANTM” with her production company Bankable Productions.
An Ivy League queen
In 2012, Banks decided to pursue further education and did a nine-week stint at Harvard Business School for the Owner/President Management program. People were upset when she called herself a Harvard grad after spending just over two months at the school, but she was still asked by Stanford to teach an MBA course in 2016.
Motherhood changed her
She decided to focus on her personal life and start a family in the mid-2000s, After dating photographer Eric Asla in 2013, the two decided to have a surrogate child due to Banks’ struggle with infertility. Her son is rarely photographed, and in 2017, the couple amicably split.
She’s had plastic surgery
In her memoir “Perfect is Boring” the star revealed that she got a nose job when she was younger, and it was for aesthetic purposes, not to breathe better. She revealed that cellulite is also an insecurity of hers and she would remove it if she could. Banks believes that women should be able to “fix it or flaunt it” as she puts it, without judgment.
She likes to rock it au naturale
After so many years of modeling and tuning out the haters, Tyra Banks has some pretty bulletproof self-esteem. She only shows up without makeup and isn’t afraid to show blemishes. She thinks it’s important for people to show the real version of themselves without hiding, but also fully believes in a glam moment.
Still hosting shows and now extremely wealthy
In 2017, she became a host for “America’s Got Talent” and in 2020 graced “Dancing With the Stars” with her presence. She even returned to modeling to pose for the 2019 cover of “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit” model. All of her hard work in her career has paid off — apparently, she has a jaw-dropping net worth of $90 million.
