Tyra Banks

Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, television personality, producer, writer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Inglewood, California, on December 4, 1973, she began her modeling career at age 15. She grew up in Los Angeles, graduating from Immaculate Heart High School in 1991, before achieving international prominence as one of the few Black models to achieve supermodel status.

Banks started modeling with L.A. Models and Elite Model Management before moving to Europe, where she booked 25 shows during the 1991 Paris Fashion Week. She went on to appear on magazine covers and in editorials for major fashion publications, including Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan, while walking for fashion houses such as Chanel, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent. Banks became the first African American woman on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, appearing on the latter three times. She was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005 and established herself as one of the world's top-earning models by the early 2000s.

In addition to modeling, Banks expanded into acting in television and film. She made her television debut in 1993 on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and her feature film debut in the drama Higher Learning. She subsequently starred in films including Life-Size, Coyote Ugly, Love & Basketball, Halloween: Resurrection, and Life-Size 2. Banks also made guest appearances on television series such as Gossip Girl, Glee, and Shake It Up.

Banks built a prominent television career as a producer and presenter. In 2003, she created the reality series America's Next Top Model, serving as executive producer and host through her company, Bankable Productions. She hosted and executive produced her own daytime talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, from 2005 to 2010, winning two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show Informative. Her television hosting work also includes America's Got Talent for its 12th and 13th seasons, FABLife, and Dancing with the Stars from 2020 to 2023.

Beyond media production, Banks has pursued writing, education, and commercial business ventures. In 2011, her young adult novel Modelland topped The New York Times Best Seller list. She completed Harvard Business School's Owner/President Management program in 2012 and served as a personal branding guest lecturer at Stanford University in 2016. Her business enterprises include the multi-level marketing cosmetics line Tyra Beauty and the boutique ice cream brand Smize & Dream, which she launched in 2020.

Banks has also engaged in philanthropic initiatives focused on empowerment and education. In 2000, she created the TZONE program, which developed into the TZONE Foundation to promote leadership and life skills for young women. She also established the Tyra Banks Scholarship to support African American girls attending Immaculate Heart High School. In her personal life, Banks has a son born via gestational surrogacy in 2016.