Blog Presents: Inspirational Lady Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks is such a cool chick & a huge inspiration to me. When I was younger & I saw her for the first time in school I thought who is this stunning woman of colour? I wanted to find out more about her & when I read her interviews she was so positive & really humble too, so I became a fan & watched her career blossom over the years. From her modelling campaigns, mentor programmes to extensive TV Shows such as The Tyra Banks show to my faaaaave America’s Next Top Model…don’t act like your not as obsessed as I am “who will be eliminated tonight” lol .

Tyra Banks (1973- ) was one of the top black supermodels of the 1990s. She was the first black woman ever to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, GQ and Victoria’s Secret – all in 1997. In 2003 she moved into television. By 2008 she had two shows: “America’s Next Top Model” (2003- ) and “The Tyra Banks Show” (2005- ), a talk show.

“America’s Next Top Model” is a fashion modelling contest. It is like “American Idol” but instead of singing, they model. Tyra not only created the show, she is one of the judges. She takes a personal interest in each of the young women in the show , trying to guide them in the right direction in the fashion industry. Some of the models to come out of the show are Toccara Jones, YaYa Da Costa and Eva Pigford.

“The Tyra Banks Show” is a talk show. It is like Oprah’s talk show but it is aimed at younger women. Again, Tyra wants to guide young women in the right direction. She seems down to earth, like Oprah did in her early days. On the other hand, sometimes she tells guests what they should believe.

Television is not something she suddenly thought of because she was getting too old to model. When she applied to universities (she never went), she was thinking of getting into television then.

She also wanted to be a singer, but gave it up in 2004 after six years of hard work: her song “Shake Ya Body” did badly.

She grew up in Inglewood, California in Los Angeles county. Her mother was a photographer and her father worked in computers. They broke up when she was six. She went to an all-girls Catholic high school. She became very tall and thin. In the last year of high school she joined the Elite modelling agency.

Instead of going to university she went to Europe to become a model. Her mother went with her. While she did have the height and weight (or lack of it) to be a model, her breasts were large and her face did not seem to be model material. Being black in such a white industry did not help either. But in whatever she does she gives it her all, works hard, aims to be perfect and has a never-say-die spirit.

In the end Paris loved her.

Her secret: “Believe it or not, I just really know how to pose well. It took me five years to learn what my best angles are.”

Naomi Campbell, the other famous black supermodel of the time, tried to get Tyra kicked out of fashion shows (fashion shows do not like to have “too many” black models). They were at odds and did not make up till 2005 when Naomi came on her talk show.

Tyra Banks has dated John Singleton and the singer Seal.

Playboy has asked her several times to appear in their magazine. Unlike Naomi, she always says no. She says everything you see is completely natural except for her hair.

There’s so much to say on this extraordinary career driven entrepreneur, but i came across this lil interview which asks Tyra some fun questions, man you just want to hang out with her, she’s so stunning but can be incredibly goofy & fun, that’s why we luv ya Ty!

Quick Fire Fun

1. Job Title:
“Chief Fierce & Lover”

2. What is your favourite part about your job?
I love being in creative meetings with our team and coming up with the next new and exciting thing for young women!

3. What is your least favourite part about your job?
Not being able to turn my brain off. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about the next new and exciting thing for young women

4. Who is your favourite designer?
Alexander McQueen. His clothes are cut and structured for a curvy body. I can squeeze my big booty into his clothes and it makes me look high fashion.

5. What is your favourite TV show?
Modern Family…Not only is it HILARIOUS, it is breaking boundaries and really showing that everyone loves the same and Gossip Girl…I want Serena’s Wardrobe. XoXo

6. What is your favourite movie of all time?
Oooh…I have a few. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version). I don’t even like chocolate, but it still makes me want to take a trip to that factory. What that movie did for children (bringing them into a fantasy world and helping them dream), I want to do for young women. I also love Pretty Woman, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Social Network (I’m obsessed with Jesse Eisenberg!)

7. What song do you rock out to?
Janet Jackson’s “Miss You Much”…complete with my own version of the choreography (It’s my own version of the choreography because I only know some of it so I have to make up the rest)

8. What’s your favourite place to visit?
Orlando, Florida because Orlando is Disney and Disney is Orlando. I’m obsessed with Orlando. I even had a house there for 6 years.

9. If you could live anywhere else, where would you live?
Disneyland! Happiest place on Earth.

10. What is your favourite hero of fiction?
Tookie. Check out Modelland in September and read why!

11. If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Multiplicity. I am so busy and there are just not enough hours in the day!

We would love to hear from you girls in a comment below if you have had someone that has inspired you in your life, explain how they inspired you. It doesn’t have to be a celeb ladies.

Also here are a few of our fave Pictures of Tyra Banks covering magazines, awards shows and even her the cover of her new book all down below. Enjoy.