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Model bio for Tyra Banks Next bio

Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks's photoGETTY

Nationality:
American
Birthday:
December 4, 1973
Born in:
Inglewood, CA
Lives now:
New York, NY
Agencies:
Elite
Known for:
My television shows, my body, my curves
Status:
Good girl, retired (mostly), supermodel
Dated:
John Utendahl, Giancarlo Marcaccini, Chris Webber (2001-2004), Mark Messier, Michael Johnson, Seal, Tiger Woods, Will Smith, John Singleton
Friends with:
Beverly Peele, Britney Spears, Chanel Iman, Crystal Renn, Heidi Klum, Iman, Karen Mulder, Kimora Lee, Marcus Schenkenberg, Niki Taylor, Noémie Lenoir, Russell Simmons, Selita Ebanks, Tyson Beckford, Veronica Webb
Feuding with:
Naomi Campbell (resolved in 2005)
Model turned…
Talk-show hostess (America’s Next Top Model, The Tyra Banks Show), actress (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; Love Stinks, 1999)

Photos

Off the Runway

Parties, covers, ads, etc.View slideshow »

Career

Sports Illustrated, 1997

Dec 4, 1973
Born in Los Angeles, California
1990
Signs with Elite Model Management
May 1992
Appears in Vogue editorial with Beverly Peele and Naomi Campbell, photographed by Patrick Demarchelier
Aug 1992
Featured on cover of German Harper’s Bazaar
Oct 1992
Appears on cover of Spanish Elle
Sep 20, 1993
Appears on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Jackie Ames, Will Smith’s girlfriend
1993
Steven Meisel photographs Banks for Dolce & Gabbana alongside Nadja Auermann
1993
Models for Ralph Lauren
1994
Appears in Yves Saint Laurent ad campaign
1994
Featured in People’s "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" issue
Dec 1994
Appears on cover of Elle
Jan 11, 1995
Plays the girlfriend of the protagonist in the movie Higher Learning
1995
Becomes the spokesperson for CoverGirl
Jan 29, 1996
Featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue
Feb 1996
Appears on cover of GQ
1996
Featured in People’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” issue
Feb 1997
Becomes the first solo black woman on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue
May 1997
Featured on the cover of Details
Aug 1997
Appears on cover of British Maxim
1997
Appears in Tommy Hilfiger ad campaign
1997
Appears in TV commercials for Victoria’s Secret Video »
Nov 1997
Appears on cover of Shape
Apr 15, 1998
Publishes Tyra’s Beauty Inside and Out
Jul 1998
Appears on the cover of Spanish Cosmopolitan
Dec 20, 1998
Serves as maid of honor for best friend, Kimora Lee, at her wedding to Russell Simmons
Jul 1999
Appears on the cover of Italian Maxim
Sep 10, 1999
Appears in the movie Love Stinks as Holly, Bill Bellamy’s wife
Nov 14, 1999
Stars in Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” video Video »
Jan 2000
Appears on cover of GQ
Feb 2000
Becomes the youth correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show
Mar 5, 2000
Plays the role of Eve, a doll that comes to life, alongside Lindsay Lohan, in Life-Size Video »
Apr 21, 2000
Role of Holly in the movie Love & Basketball
Aug 2000
Appears on cover of Italian Maxim
Aug 4, 2000
Plays the role of Zoe in the movie Coyote Ugly Video »
2000
Named Women of the Year by Sports Illustrated
May 2002
Appears on the cover of Ocean Drive
Jul 12, 2002
Plays the role of Nora Winston, a reality programmer, in Halloween: Resurrection
May 20, 2003
Becomes the host and producer of the television show America’s Next Top Model Video »
Nov 2003
Walks in the Best of Victoria’s Secret 2003 Fashion Show
2005
Walks for the last time at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Sep 12, 2005
Starts her own television show, The Tyra Banks Show
Nov 2005
Invites Naomi Campbell to end their feud of over ten years
Nov 21, 2005
Quits the fashion business to focus on other endeavors
2006
Celebrates the tenth anniversary of being on the cover of Sports Illustrated with a re-creation of the original 1996 cover shoot
Jan 2007
Criticized by tabloids for supposed weight gain
Feb 5, 2007
Appears on cover of People magazine denouncing media stir over her weight
Jul 28, 2007
Rumored to be dating investment banker John Utendahl
Aug 6, 2007
Announces her talk show will move from Los Angeles to New York
Aug 9, 2007
Her brother, Devin, who is a cadet in the U.S. Air Force, is deployed to Iraq
Aug 2007
Appears on cover of Ebony magazine with Iman, Alek Wek, and Kimora Lee Simmons
Aug 2007
Splits from manager Benny Medina
Jan 12, 2008
BET honors Banks for her media work throughout the years Story »
Jun 20, 2008
Wins the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Video »
Jul 2008
Featured in the all-black issue of Italian Vogue, photographed by Steven Meisel

Quoted

“I made my living being 20 or 30 pounds heavier than the average model. And that's where I got famous. Victoria's Secret said I sold more bras and panties than anybody else, and I was traipsing down that runway with 30 pounds more booty than the other girls.”

The Observer (April 15, 2007)

“If I was in pain, I would have dieted. ”

People magazine (January 24, 2007)

Fashion Show Shortcuts