Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973) is a popular American supermodel, television personality, author, actress, executive producer, and talk show host, who's best known for her role since 2003 as both the host and judge of America's Next Top Model. Banks is widely-recognized as one of the most famous fashion models in the world and one of the original Victoria's Secret Angels.

In 1991, Banks was about to begin her freshman year at Loyola Marymount University when Elite Model Management gave the 17-year-old her first modeling job. But Banks began modeling at age 15. Prior to this entry into the fashion world, Banks had been rejected several times for modeling assignments. Some had fallaciously noted some drawback to Banks' high forehead. 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 college.

In 1991, Banks was about to begin her freshman year at Loyola Marymount University when Elite Model Management gave the 17-year-old her first modeling job. But Banks began modeling at age 15. Prior to this entry into the fashion world, Banks had been rejected several times for modeling assignments. Some had fallaciously noted some drawback to Banks' high forehead. 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 college.

Banks' career took off when she made the move from high-fashion to a commercial market. She was the first African-American to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue, but is most noted for her work as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, Victoria's Secret model, and talk-show hostess. In 1997 she won the prestigious Michael Award for "Supermodel of the Year". Banks has done runway shows in Paris, Milan, and the U.S. She has been featured in a variety of magazines, commercials, and billboards. Her modeling credits include runway and/or print work for Cover Girl, Swatch, Pepsi, Nike, XOXO, LensCrafters, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint-Laurent, Chanel, Escada, Anna Sui, Liz Claiborne, and Richard Tyler. Banks has appeared on many international magazines, including the covers of Vogue, ELLE, Amica, ELLEgirl, L'Officiel, Harper's Bazaar, Photo, Cosmopolitan, and Sports Illustrated.

In a time when "waif" fashion models were in some prominence, Banks stood out with a more voluptuous physique at 5ft 10 1/2 in, tall and reported measurements of 35½-23½-36½. Banks had to work hard to persuade fashion designers that her physique was well-suited to the catwalk, and ultimately she modeled for the best haute-couture designers all over the world. A little bit later on in her career, Banks decided that the world of high-fashion was no longer something she wished to pursue and so began seeking work in the commercial side of fashion. She says: "I was pro-active... I told my agency to call Victoria's Secret, and I told them to call Sports Illustrated... I said 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 openly proud of her body, once commenting, "Some models are quite 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. Black men love big butts, and they cannot lie."

Despite her phenomenal success as a supermodel, Banks began venturing from modeling to becoming a so-called media "personality" after 2000. She is the hostess, head judge, and an executive producer of the UPN television show America's Next Top Model. She also receives executive producer credits for all ANTM spinoffs. Banks also enjoyed a brief stint as a recording artist and during season two of America's Next Top Model the contestants danced in her first music video for the single Shake Ya Body ( Music Video) produced by experienced record producer Darkchild. 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.

Banks retired from modeling in 2005. She made her final walk down the runway at the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Television

Banks' television career began on the fourth season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in which she played Jackie, Will's ex-girlfriend. She also appeared on Felicity. As well as her role as executive producer, host and head judge of the hit TV show America's Next Top Model, she currently hosts The Tyra Banks Show, a daytime talk show which premiered in the United States on September 12, 2005, the second season of which has recently premiered. The show features stories about everyday people mixed in with celebrity interviews, much like the early format of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Under the slogan "Every woman has a story," Banks promoted her show using emotional flashbacks to her own childhood and adolescence. Many of the episodes deal with issues facing women today. She has also starred in an old 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/ team captain.

Music

An ad for Banks' single, "Shake Ya Body."Banks appeared in Michael Jackson's "Black or White" video in a scene in which Glen Chin morphs into her, and with fellow supermodel Linda Evangelista, in George Michael's "Too Funky" video. In 2004, she recorded her first single, Shake Ya Body. She has also had a single with NBA star Kobe Bryant, "K.O.B.E.," and has a single/soundtrack from the Disney movie Life-Size, called "Be A Star". She still plans to try again & put out an album. She recorded a song with Wyclef produced by Rodney Jerkins AKA: Dark Child.
The Tyra Banks Show (2005): $3,500,000/year (2007)
Has an older brother named Devin. CEO of her own company TYInc. Dated John Singleton. Named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by people magazine.(1994) In 1994, she started the Tyra Banks Scholarship. Professional model. Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the most beautiful people in the world. [1996] First African American model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition Is a "Youth Correspondent" for The Oprah Winfrey Show, and there is speculation that Oprah Winfrey is training Tyra to eventually take over the show (as of February 2000). Took Second Place by the readers of Black Men Magazine for "The 10 Sexiest Women of the Year." [2000] Measurements: 34C-23 1/2-35 1/2. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Size 9 shoe. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Does not drink alcohol. Dated Sacramento Kings player Chris Webber for over three years Started a singing career with the song "Shake Ya Body", introduced on her show America's Next Top Model. Ranked 54 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties Claims that her career was difficult in part because of a rivalry with another black top model, Naomi Campbell. Banks has said that Campbell, who was more famous, would get her thrown off of fashion shows. Paid $30,000 of her own money to finance the music video for her song "Shake Ya Body," which appeared on her show America's Next Top Model. Created TZONE, a leadership and life skills development program for primarily disadvantaged teen girls in the greater Los Angeles area. As of 2005, more than 240 girls have gone through the program. Was accepted at UCLA and USC. Signed with Elite Model Management her senior year of high school. Her mother, Carolyn London, is a professional photographer, and worked as her manager. Grew up in Inglewood, California. Her friends used to call her "The Black Widow" because she used to break up with men she was dating before they would break up with her. Her mother Carolyn London is her best friend. Her brother Devin's ex-wife and children appeared on an episode of America's Next Top Model when the models are in Japan. When she was eleven, she grew four inches and lost 30 pounds. Her older brother Devin who tormented her as a child. As adults, the two are friends. Her parents, Carolyn London and Don Banks, divorced when she was six years old. Is allergic to dogs. In 2005, she revealed on The Tyra Banks Show that her measurements are 34-28-40. She and Naomi Campbell reconciled on her talk show, The Tyra Banks Show (November 2005). Received the Michael Award for "Supermodel of the Year." Was named "Woman of the Year" for 2000 by Sports Illustrated. Served as maid of honor at the wedding of best friend Kimora Lee to Russell Simmons Her first name is an old Danish name, originally from the vikings. Godmother of Kimora Lee's and Russell Simmons's daughter Ming Lee Played as herself in the 1996 Nike commercials with basketball star Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway and "Little Penny" Hardaway (voice of Chris Rock). As a model, she had the following restrictions: - No Frontal Nudity - No Birds - No Cats - No Fish - No Cigarettes - No Alcohol. As of February 2007, cites Heroes as her favorite TV show, and her favorite Heroes character as Hiro, played by Masi Oka. Says her favorite cycle of America's Next Top Model is Cycle 1, because the girls did not know what to expect. Chosen by FTC Publications Class-Elite Magazine (USA) as "The Role Model for Models" [2007]. She was raised in Inglewood, California with her brother Devin, and attended Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girl, independent Catholic private school in Los Angeles. One of only two people to ever receive the editor's copy of the FTC Publications International Model's Guide. The other was Naomi Campbell. Wore braces for two and a half years to straighten her teeth. While a high school student, Tyra applied to five colleges with the intention of majoring in film and television production. Within Banks' first week in Paris, other designers were so entranced by her presence on the runway that she was booked for an unprecedented 25 shows--a record in the business for a newcomer. Attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, California, a popular Catholic girls' school, where she claims that her classmates made fun of her because of her height and weight. One of only four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine. In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $18 million.