Tyra Banks Biography
Born on December 4, 1973, in the United States, Tyra Lynne Banks, commonly referred to as BanX, is an actress, producer, writer, and model. She was the first African American woman to appear on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, appearing on both publications three times. Born in Inglewood, California, she started her modeling career at the age of fifteen. Among the Black models to become Supermodels, Banks was one of the few. From 1997 till 2005, she was an Angel for Victoria’s Secret. One of the top-earning models in the world by the early 2000s was Banks.
Banks made her film debut in the drama Higher Learning (1995) after starting her acting career on television in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993). She appeared in many high-profile movies in 2000, including Zoe in the box office success Coyote Ugly and Eve in Disney Channel’s Life-Size. Banks starred in supporting roles in the television shows Glee (2013), Gossip Girl (2009), Halloween: Resurrection (2002), and the romantic sports film Love & Basketball (2000).
The long-running reality television program America’s Next Top Model was developed by Banks in 2003. She executive produced and presented the show for its first twenty-two seasons until it was canceled in October 2015. She continued to serve as executive producer during the show’s 2016 resurrection, hiring Rita Ora to host the twenty-third cycle before taking over for the twenty-fourth.
In addition to co-creating True Beauty (2009–2010), Banks hosted The Tyra Banks Show (2005–2010), a chat show that aired on The CW and took home two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding chat Show Informative. She co-hosted the discussion show FABLife in 2015 for a two-month period. Banks hosted the 12th season of America’s Got Talent in 2017. She served as executive producer and host of Dancing with the Stars for its 29th season in 2020.
Modeland, a young adult book that Banks wrote in 2010 and was based on her time as a model, debuted at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list in 2011. In addition, she owns Bankable Productions, a production firm that has worked on films including The Clique (2008), America’s Next Top Model, and The Tyra Banks Show. Time magazine has listed Banks as one of seven women and four African Americans among the world’s most influential people on many occasions. Additionally, she is just one of seventeen models listed by MODELS.com as a Legendary Supermodel.
| WIKI FACTS & ABOUT DATA | |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | Tyra Lynne Banks |
| Stage Name: | Tyra Banks |
| Born: | 4 December 1973 (age 49 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Inglewood, California, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Education: | Immaculate Heart High School |
| Height: | 1.78 m |
| Parents: | Donald Banks, Carolyn London |
| Siblings: | Devin Banks |
| Spouse: | Not Married |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | Louis Belanger Martin, Erik Asla (2013-2017), John Utendahl (2007-2011), Giancarlo Marcaccini (2005-2006), Chris Webber (2001-2004), Seal (1996), John Singleton (1993-1996), Will Smith (1993-1994), Craig Taylor (1990), Rupert Everett, Tyler Perry, Mark Messier, Brian White, Tiger Woods, Keith Carlos (2014), Drake (2012), Rob Evans (2012), Teresa Weatherspoon (1999), Rick Fox |
| Children: | York Banks Asla |
| Occupation: | Actress • Media Personality |
| Net Worth: | $90 million |
Tyra Banks Net Worth
American-born Tyra Banks is well-known for her long career in the entertainment industry. She has experimented with a variety of fields, such as acting, modeling, producing, entrepreneurship, and television hosting.
Tyra Banks, whose estimated net worth is $90 million, has likewise amassed a substantial fortune over her career.
Tyra Banks Early life and education
On December 4, 1973, Tyra Lynne Banks was born in Inglewood, California. Her father, Donald Banks, is a computer consultant, and her mother, Carolyn London (now London-Johnson), is a medical photographer. Devin, her brother, is five years her senior. Banks’ parents separated when she was six years old, in 1979. Banks completed his education at John Burroughs Middle School and Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles in 1991. According to Banks, she was called a “ugly duckling” and made fun of for her appearance as a child;
Banks shed thirty pounds in three months and grew three inches when she was eleven years old. Banks talked about her Ancestry.com genetic test results, which showed that she was “79% African, 14% British, and 6% Native American,” on America’s Next Top Model. In an interview, she revealed that she is also “1% Finnish”, saying: “I’m 14% British, 6% Native American, 1% Finnish, and all the rest African.” Banks finished a nine-week Owner/President Management non-degree extension course at Harvard University in February 2012.
Tyra Banks Modeling career
Banks began modeling at the age of fifteen while enrolled in a Los Angeles school. Before being signed by L.A. Models, she was turned down by four other modeling agencies. At sixteen, she moved to Elite Model Management. She relocated to Milan after being offered the chance to model around Europe. She secured 25 shows for her debut runway season in Paris Fashion Week in 1991. Banks was featured in editorials for Vogue, Vanity Fair, American, French, German, and Spanish; Elle; Harper’s Bazaar, American, German, and Malaysian; and V; W.
Numerous magazines, including Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Spanish Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and Teen Vogue, featured her on their covers. Fashion shows for Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Anna Sui, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Herve Leger, Valentino, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Sonia Rykiel, Michael Kors, and other designers were among those she walked in.
Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Halston, H&M, XOXO, Swatch, Versace, Christian Lacroix, Victoria’s Secret, Got Milk?, Pepsi, and Nike were among the brands she starred in advertisements for. Banks and CoverGirl cosmetics inked a contract in 1993, and Banks began promoting the cosmetics brand. She was among the very few Black models to reach the level of Supermodel. Banks came back to the US to continue her commercial modeling career in the mid-1990s.
In addition to being the first African-American woman on the cover of GQ, Banks was also the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She won the VH1 title of “Supermodel of the Year” in 1997. She became a Victoria’s Secret Angel that year and was the first African American to be selected for the catalog’s cover. Banks re-signed with her previous modeling company, IMG Models, in 2010. Banks now contributes to the website Vogue Italia. In 2013, Banks worked with fashion photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth to change her appearance into 15 different supermodels.
2019 saw Banks come out of retirement from modeling to appear on three covers of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue; Camille Kostek and Alex Morgan were the other two cover models. 22 years after her first cover, it was her third for the magazine. She also declared that BanX will be her new modeling name.
Tyra Banks Television and film career
In the fourth season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Banks made her television debut as Jackie Ames, the longtime friend of the show’s main character Will Smith. In the series, she made seven appearances. Additional television credits include appearances on Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘n Out (where she served as a team captain and special guest host), All That, MADtv, Felicity, and The Price Is Right (guest-starring as a “Barker’s Beauty”). Additionally, she made an appearance as a guest in the “Chinatown” episode of the animated chat show Space Ghost Coast to Coast.
Banks founded “Ty Ty Baby Productions,” which she quickly renamed to Bankable Productions. Under this firm, she made the films The Clique (2008), America’s Next Top Model, and The Tyra Banks Show. Banks is America’s Next Top Model’s executive producer, a former presenter, and a judge. A daytime chat show targeted at younger women, The Tyra Banks Show, was also hosted by her. It debuted on September 12, 2005, and ran until May 28, 2010. For her work and production on The Tyra Banks Show, Banks was awarded a Daytime Emmy in 2008. In 2009, she repeated as the winner of the Outstanding, Informative Talkshow Award.
In 1994, Banks landed her first major role as a co-star in the drama Higher Learning. After that, she co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in the Disney movie Life-Size, where she played an animated doll named Eve. She has also starred in the movies Love Stinks (1999), Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009), Halloween: Resurrection (2002), Love & Basketball (2000), and Coyote Ugly (2000). Banks made her Gossip Girl debut as the larger-than-life actress Ursula Nyquist in the fourth episode of the show’s third season. She also made an appearance as a school librarian in the Disney Channel series Shake It Up.
Deadline Hollywood said in 2012 that Banks would co-create and produce Fivehead, an ABC comedy series inspired by her adolescent years. Banks costarred with YouTube celebrity Leah Ashley, fashion stylist Joe Zee, interior designer Lauren Makk, and model Chrissy Teigen in the roundtable lineup discussion show FABLife in 2015. Less than three months into the show, Banks left to concentrate on her cosmetics business. With the December 2 Freeform premiere of Life-Size 2, Banks made a comeback to acting in 2018. In addition, Banks will executive produce and act in the Quibi documentary series Beauty.52] She inked a contract with Universal Television in 2018.
The announcement that Banks would take over as Dancing with the Stars’ next host was made in July 2020. Banks inked an agreement with ABC Signature in August 2020. Banks chose to leave the show in March 2023 after three seasons in order to concentrate on her business obligations.
Tyra Banks Other ventures
Cosmetics
After completing a non-degree certificate program at Harvard Business School, Banks started the cosmetics brand Tyra Beauty in 2014. Tyra Beauty recruits sales distributors—dubbed “beautytainers” by the company—through a multi-level marketing scheme. Banks conducted a casting call to recruit faces for her collection, and the original beauty models for the cosmetic line were Melody Parra, Monique Hayward, Katy Harvey, and Marita Gomsrud, a participant on Top Model Norge. Co-founded by Banks and Demand Media, “typeF.com” is a fashion and beauty website that debuted in March 2011. She established the interactive cosmetic e-commerce website “tyra.com” in 2015.
Music
Banks has been featured in a number of music videos, such as those for the following songs: “Black or White” by Michael Jackson, “Trife Life” by Mobb Deep, “Love Thing” by Tina Turner, “Too Funky” by George Michael featuring models Linda Evangelista, Estelle Lefébure, Emma Sjoberg, and Nadja Auermann, and “Don’t Wanna Lose You” by Lionel Richie. She recorded her debut single, “Shake Ya Body,” in 2004. Cycle 2 participants from America’s Next Top Model were included in the music video. On UPN, the video made its debut. Banks and NBA player Kobe Bryant collaborated on a song called “K.O.B.E.” that was featured on NBA TV. She also had a hit called “Be a Star” on the Life-Size (2000) soundtrack. Banks collaborated with musician Todrick Hall on the song “Fashón” for his 2021 album Femuline.
Writing
Banks is a co-author of Tyra’s Beauty, Inside and Out (published in 1998). She revealed in May 2010 that she was going to write a book called Modelland, which was partially inspired by her personal experiences as a model. Originally scheduled to be the first of a three-part series, it was published in September 2011; Modelland reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller list in October 2011. In 2018, Banks co-wrote the book “Perfect is Boring” with her mother, Carolyn London.
Teaching
Banks agreed to take a guest lectureship on personal branding at Stanford University in August of 2016.
Tyra Banks Personal life
In the 2010s, Banks dated photographer Erik Asla from Norway, and the couple had a biological son born through surrogacy in January 2016. Banks has declared that she has never used other recreational drugs and that she usually stays away from alcohol.
Banks has been vocal about her history of abusive relationships. “I won’t be using a lot of names on the show, but there was a specific relationship that had not just cheating but emotional abuse,” she said in response to a question about her past relationships in 2005. Although it was terrible, it gave me strength.” During her guest appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2009, where she co-hosted with Oprah Winfrey, she disclosed details about her previous relationships. The focus of the program was dating violence in reaction to Chris Brown’s attack on Rihanna.
Education
Banks enrolled in Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program (OPM) in 2011, a nine-week program. In February 2012, Banks finished the executive education training course and received a diploma. She has drawn flak for making the implication that she graduated from Harvard. Her remarks on Harvard were called “disingenuous” by Jenna Sauers, a Jezebel writer, who also urged her to “stop lying” about the university. As of 2012, Banks’s business, Bankable Productions, was the subject of a case study being prepared by Harvard professor Rohit Deshpande for use in upcoming OPM program courses.
Tyra Banks Philanthropy
Banks founded the TZONE program, which focused on developing life skills and leadership abilities. at addition, she founded the Tyra Banks Scholarship, which aims to give African-American girls the chance to enroll at Immaculate Heart High School, her alma school. Tyra Banks TZONE, formerly a camp, became a public charity in 2005.
Tyra Banks Awards & Nominations
Daytime Emmy Awards
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- Outstanding Talk Show/Informative (2 wins, two nominations)
- Special Talk Show Host (2 nominations)
Teen Choice Awards
- Choice TV: Personality (4 wins, three nominations)
- Choice TV: Female Reality Star (1 nomination)
NAACP Image Awards
- Outstanding Talk Series (3 nominations)
OFTA Television Awards
- Best Talk or Service Show (2 nominations)
- Best Host of a Talk or Service Show (1 nomination)
Tyra Banks Social Media
- Instagram handle: Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks)
- Facebook: Tyra Banks
- Tiktok handle: Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks)
Tyra Banks On TikTok
@00smodelsupremacy The model that I truly admired #tyrabanks
Tyra Banks Trivia
She talked in private for an hour with each girl who was eliminated from America’s Next Top Model until the show’s fourth season in 2003. She was instructed to cease by the producers.
She was subject to the following limitations as a model: No Frontal Intimacy – No fish, no birds, no cats, and no cigarettes Avoid alcohol.
doesn’t consume alcohol.
One of just four African Americans and seven women to be consistently listed by Time magazine as one of the most influential people in the world.
asserts that a competition with fellow black top model Naomi Campbell was a contributing factor in the difficulties she faced throughout her career. According to Banks, Campbell would have her removed from fashion presentations since she was more well-known.
She was dubbed “The Black Widow” by her friends because she would end relationships with guys before they did.
claims that because the girls were unprepared for the first cycle of America’s Next Top Model (2003), she loves that cycle the best.
Banks’ presence on the catwalk captured the attention of other designers in her first week in Paris, and within that week, she was booked for an astounding 25 shows—a first for a newbie to the industry.
Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition cover featuring the first African-American model (Winter 1997). Australian photographer Russell James shot her in a red and pink polka dot bikini for the edition that went on to become one of the magazine’s best-selling covers ever.
the first model of African descent to feature on the Victoria’s Secret catalog cover.
Carolyn London, her mother, managed her as she worked as a professional photographer.
attended the well-known Catholic girls’ school Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, California, where she claimed that her classmates made fun of her because of her size and weight.
Upon completion of the Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School, a diploma was awarded [February 23, 2012].
Forbes Magazine calculated her annual salary to be $18 million in 2007.
the first model of African descent to grace the cover of GQ magazine.
founded TZONE, a program for adolescent females in the greater Los Angeles area that focuses on developing leadership and life skills. Over 240 girls had completed the program as of 2005.
On her talk show, The Tyra Banks Show (2005) (November 2005), she and Naomi Campbell made up.
Tyra said that the theme of her upcoming talk show season would be “celebrating inner and outer beauty” while wearing nothing but a bodysuit. Tyra has consistently discussed women’s perceptions of their bodies and how the media scrutinizes female beauty. She received the ‘Do Something’ Award, which is granted to celebrities who make a positive impact in the fashion industry.
Ming Lee, the daughter of Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons, has a godmother.
She has fought against racism in the film industry.
Tyra applied to five institutions as a high school student, planning to major in film and television production.
left Loyola University at the age of seventeen to pursue a career in modeling.
has a dog allergy.
On an America’s Next Top Model (2003) episode while the models are in Japan, her brother Devin’s ex-wife and kids made an appearance.
signed a contract with Elite Model Management during her final year of education.
was romantically involved with Erik Asla from 2013 to 2017. York Banks Asla, their son, was born on January 27, 2016.
She shed thirty pounds and grew four inches when she was eleven years old.
served as maid of honor at Kimora Lee Simmons, the best friend of Russell Simmons,’s wedding.
When she was six years old, her parents, Don Banks and Carolyn London, got divorced.
Along with her brother Devin, she grew up in Inglewood, California, and went to Immaculate Heart High School, an independent Catholic private school in Los Angeles that was exclusively for girls.
received admissions to USC and UCLA.
Has stated that she would launch an ice cream business or become a full-time actress if she weren’t modeling.
wore braces to correct her teeth for 2.5 years.
She established the Tyra Banks Scholarship in 1994.
has broken off her four-year romance [December 13, 2011] with banker John Utendahl.
Kenya Barris was childhood friends with Ken Mok, who co-created America’s Next Top Model (2003) with her.
Born and raised in Inglewood, CA.
Steve Harvey, Will Smith, Paulina Porizkova, Rebecca Romijn, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Heidi Klum are among their friends.
Her Viking origins can be traced to her first name, Danish.
portrayed herself in the 1996 Nike ads alongside Penny Hardaway, the basketball player, and Chris Rock’s character, “Little Penny” Hardaway.
has a brother, Devin, who is older.
began her singing career in 2003 with the introduction of the song “Shake Ya Body” on the television program America’s Next Top Model.
Her closest friend is her mother, Carolyn London.
Presented as “The Role Model for Models” by FTC Publications Class-Elite Magazine (USA) [2007].
Kenya Barris’s childhood pal.
January 1, 2012: enrolling in Harvard Business School 1.
One of just two persons in history to obtain an editor’s copy of the International Model’s Guide from FTC Publications. It was Naomi Campbell on the other.
Listed by people magazine as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” In 1994
selected as one of the world’s most beautiful individuals by individuals (USA) magazine.
was honored with the 2000 Sports Illustrated “Woman of the Year” title.
Devin, her elder brother, used to torture her. The two are pals as adults.
financed the music video for her song “Shake Ya Body,” which debuted on her television show America’s Next Top Model (2003), with $30,000 of her own funds.
Since elementary school, Alfonso Ribeiro and I have been friends.
cousin of Nichelle Rodriguez, an acting manager based in Los Angeles with “Inspired Talent Management,” which also owns and operates the children’s and adolescent film acting camp called “Young Actors Camp.”
names Heroes (2006) as her favorite TV series as of February 2007, with Masi Oka’s character Hiro as her favorite.
CEO of her own business, TYInc.; shoe size 9. (Source: The magazine Celebrity Sleuth)
ranked second among Black Men Magazine readers’ choice of “The 10 Sexiest Women of the Year.”
honored with the Michael Award for “Supermodel of the Year.”
appeared in Extra Terrorestrial Alien Encounter (1994), a theme park ride at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, as the Alien hostess (with a lot of makeup). A another actress dubbed her voice. The 2003 closure of the attraction followed several complaints that it was excessively spooky.
On VH1’s 100 Hottest Hotties, ranked 54
serves as a “Youth Correspondent” for The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986), and there’s a rumor that Tyra is being groomed by Oprah to take over the program in the future (as of February 2000).
Expert-level model
Who Is Tyra Banks?
Leading international fashion model Tyra Banks made history by being the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue. Later, she won two Emmy Awards for hosting her own daytime talk show and the reality TV series America’s Next Top Model. Banks launched her own cosmetics collection in 2014 as part of her ongoing business expansion. Beginning April 2017, Banks replaced Nick Cannon as America’s Got Talent host.
Who is the father of Tyra Banks baby?
Even while being a working mother might be challenging at times, the Dancing with the Stars host says her 7-year-old son York Banks Asla and her ex-boyfriend Erik Asla make it “worth it.”
Does Tyra Banks have children?
Tyra Banks is recognized globally as the legendary supermodel, the new host of Dancing with the Stars, and the creator of The SmizeTM. However, York Banks Asla, her four-year-old son, views her as just mom.
Why is Tyra Banks so famous?
Tyra Banks is a well-known American fashion model and television personality who is most recognized for her roles as the faces of CoverGirl and Victoria’s Secret. She gained notoriety as the host of America’s Next Top Model (2003–15, 2017–18) and for her daily talk show The Tyra Banks Show (2005–10) on television.
