Tyra Banks is a famous African American model that was one of
the first black fashion models to reach "supermodel"
status. She has also acted in several movies and has hosted the
popular reality TV show "America's Next Top Model" and
her own talkshow program called "The Tyra Banks Show."
Banks was
born in Los Angeles, California, USA as Tyra Lynne Banks. In
1991, Tyra was just weeks away from starting her freshman year
at college when Elite, a fashion magazine, gave the 17-year-old
her first modeling job. Instead of heading to school, she headed
to Paris for fashion shows. Tyra became internationally known.
She is now featured in a wide array of magazines, commercials,
and billboards. Her credits include Cover Girl, Swatch, Pepsi,
Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Dolce & Gabbana,
among many others.
Tyra Banks
was the first African-American to feature on the cover of Gentlemen's
Quarterly, Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue and the Victoria's
Secret catalog. It was her Victoria's Secret work in particular
that made her famous. In 1997, Tyra won the prestigious Michael
Award for Supermodel of the Year.
She is the
executive producer (with Kevin Mok), chief judge, and host of
the UPN television show America's Next Top Model, which chronicles
the transformation of young model hopefuls into professional
working fashion models.
Tyra Banks also hosts her own daytime talkshow program. The
Tyra Banks Show deals with issues and challenges that young
American women face.
In 2004
Tyra Banks released an album of dance and pop music. A single,
"Shake Ya Body," was released but was not a financial
or critical success.
In addition
to having recurring roles in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, as
Will Smith's old friend from Philadephia, and in the college
drama Felicity, Banks has also appeared in a number of major
Hollywood movies:
Mr Woodcock (2007)
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Coyote
Ugly (2000)
Love and Basketball (2000)
Life Size (2000)
Higher Learning (1994)
See
also
Tyra
Banks Quotes
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