Tyra Banks Biography Quotes 31 Report mistakes

Early Life and Family
Tyra Lynne Banks was born on December 4, 1973, in Inglewood, California, USA. She grew up in Los Angeles with her mother, Carolyn London (later known professionally as Carolyn London-Johnson), a medical photographer, and her father, Donald Banks, a computer consultant. Her parents divorced when she was young, and her close relationship with her mother became a defining force in her life and later in her career. She has an older brother, Devin. Banks attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, graduating in 1991, and was admitted to Loyola Marymount University before choosing to defer college to pursue modeling full-time.

Entry Into Modeling
Banks began modeling as a teenager, signing with L.A. Models before moving to Elite Model Management. At 17, she relocated to Europe and quickly found a place on major runways in Paris. Her early high-fashion work included shows and shoots with houses such as Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. After gaining some weight during her European years and being told she no longer fit certain runway standards, she received critical support from designers and editors who valued her presence, leading her to reposition from high fashion to more commercial modeling without losing momentum.

Breakthrough and Supermodel Era
Returning to the United States in the mid-1990s, Banks secured a CoverGirl cosmetics contract and became one of the most visible faces in mainstream American fashion. She made history as the first African American woman on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and later appeared again for a solo cover. Around the same time, she became the first African American woman to appear on the cover of GQ. Banks also rose to prominence as a Victoria's Secret Angel, helping define the brand alongside contemporaries such as Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundchen. The combination of commercial work, runway experience, and magazine covers elevated her to international supermodel status and made her a symbol of broader beauty standards in the industry.

Television Creation and Producing
In 2003, Banks created and executive produced the reality competition series America's Next Top Model with long-time collaborator Ken Mok. The show introduced audiences to the behind-the-scenes craft of modeling, emphasizing discipline, resilience, and business savvy. Banks served as host and head judge, working closely with creative partners and personalities including Nigel Barker, J. Alexander (Miss J), Jay Manuel (Mr. Jay), Janice Dickinson, Twiggy, Paulina Porizkova, and later judges and mentors as the series evolved. The program became a global franchise, influencing international editions and changing how aspiring models and the public understood casting, posing, branding, and runway technique. Banks popularized the term "smize" (smile with your eyes) on the series, a phrase that moved into broader pop culture.

Talk Show and Media Impact
From 2005 to 2010, she hosted and executive produced The Tyra Show, a daytime talk show that explored self-esteem, body image, relationships, and popular culture. The program earned multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and produced some of her most cited cultural moments, including her rebuke of tabloids that had mocked her body; she defended women against unrealistic standards and amplified a message of self-acceptance that resonated well beyond fashion. Banks also hosted major competition shows, including a stint leading America's Got Talent, and later served as host and executive producer of Dancing with the Stars, further cementing her presence as a mainstream television personality and business-minded showrunner.

Acting and Entertainment
Parallel to modeling and producing, Banks built a portfolio in film and television. She appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air early in her career and acted in films such as Higher Learning and Coyote Ugly. She co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in the fantasy comedy Life-Size and returned years later for Life-Size 2. Throughout these projects, she worked with influential directors and producers who recognized her ability to cross over from modeling into scripted entertainment, adding versatility to her public profile.

Business, Education, and Writing
Banks founded Bankable Productions to develop television and digital content. She later launched TYRA Beauty, a cosmetics venture that reflected her interest in brand-building and direct-to-consumer strategies. She pursued executive education at Harvard Business School, completing the Owner/President Management program, and frequently discussed how those studies sharpened her approach to entrepreneurship. In 2016, she co-taught a personal branding course at Stanford Graduate School of Business with lecturer Allison Kluger, bringing her professional experience into the classroom. As an author, Banks published Tyra's Beauty, Inside & Out and the young adult novel Modelland, which reached bestseller lists. She later co-authored Perfect Is Boring with her mother, Carolyn, offering a multigenerational perspective on confidence and growth. She also developed ventures linked to her signature idea of "smizing", including consumer products and an ice cream brand.

Advocacy and Philanthropy
Banks has consistently advocated for diversity, inclusion, and realistic standards of beauty. Her TZONE initiative, later connected with programs at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, focused on leadership development and life skills for young women. Through her shows, public speaking, and social media, she emphasized representation across size, race, and background, often crediting her mother's steadfast support as a guiding influence. A widely watched conversation with Naomi Campbell on her talk show addressed the pressures and rivalries placed on Black models in the 1990s and became part of a broader dialogue about equity in fashion.

Personal Life
Banks has kept parts of her personal life private while sharing selective milestones with the public. She was in a long-term relationship with NBA player Chris Webber in the early 2000s. Later, with photographer Erik Asla, she welcomed a son, York Banks Asla, via surrogacy in 2016. Her close bond with her mother has remained a central theme; the two frequently collaborated professionally and spoke candidly about resilience, ambition, and family on and off camera.

Legacy and Influence
Tyra Banks helped redefine the scope of a modeling career, proving that a supermodel could become a producer, educator, author, and entrepreneur while shaping culture through mainstream television. By foregrounding business literacy, personal branding, and self-acceptance, she broadened the path for models who followed. The people around her, from Carolyn London's steady counsel to creative partners like Ken Mok, Nigel Barker, J. Alexander, and Jay Manuel, were integral to building her platforms. Her milestones on magazine covers, leadership on America's Next Top Model, and commitment to body positivity and inclusion secured her standing as one of the most influential figures in modern fashion and entertainment.

Our collection contains 31 quotes who is written by Tyra, under the main topics: Witty One-Liners - Mother - Parenting - Art - Equality.

Other people realated to Tyra: Cheryl Tiegs (Model), Bridget Hall (Model), Heidi Klum (Model)