Tyra Banks Biography

Tyra Banks, supermodel, talk show host

Birthdate: December 4, 1973

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California

Sign: Sagittarius

Tyra Banks is a supermodel, Emmy Award-winning talk show host, actress, television personality and businessperson. She became famous early in her life as a model in Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, and New York, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough.

She is known best as host and judge of the reality television show "America's Next Top Model" and as talk show host of her own Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show, "The Tyra Banks Show."

Banks holds the honor of being named one of four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine.

She was born as Tyra Lynne Banks in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Carolyn, a fashion manager and NASA photographer, and Donald Banks, a computer consultant. The couple divorced in 1980, when Tyra was six, although the relationship of her parents and especially her brother Devin Banks stayed friendly. Later, Carolyn married Clifford Johnson. Banks graduated from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles and began modeling in 11th grade.

Banks was a success her first week modeling in Paris. Other designers were so entranced by her presence on the runway that she was booked for an unprecedented 25 shows; a record in the business for a newcomer. She has done extensive print and runway work for fashion and advertising giants such as Anna Sui, Coors Light, CoverGirl, Badgley Mischka, Bill Blass, Cynthia Rowley, Chanel, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Gemma Kahng, H&M, Isaac Mizrahi, Maria Snyder, McDonald's, Aislinn Dubois Modeling Agency Michael Kors, Milk, Nicole Miller, Nike, Inc., Oscar de la Renta, Pepsi, Perry Ellis, Randy Kemper, Richard Tyler, Rifat Ozbek, Swatch, Todd Oldham, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, and Yves Saint Laurent.

She has appeared on the covers of high fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Elle.

Banks was the first African American woman to appear on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 1997, she received the VH1 Award for Supermodel of the Year. That same year, she was chosen for the cover of the Victoria's Secret catalog, making her the first African American to do so.

Banks retired from her career as a model in May 2005 to concentrate on her television show. She walked the runway for the final time at the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Banks has long wanted to have a singing career, and in 2004, she recorded her first single, "Shake Ya Body," which had a music video featuring the America's Next Top Model, Cycle 2 contestants. The single turned out to be a failure, much to Banks disappointment.

She has appeared in several music videos including Michael Jackson's "Black or White," Tina Turner's "Love Thing," Mobb Deep's "Trife Life" and George Michael's "Too Funky" (with fellow supermodel Linda Evangelista).

In 1993, Banks met "Boyz N the Hood" director John Singleton through mutual friends. They began dating and in 1995 Banks had her screen debut in the Singleton directed film, "Higher Learning." They broke up in 1996.

In 2002, Tyra started dating Sacramento Kings basketball forward Chris Webber. After a two-year romance, they broke up in 2004.

Banks' television career began on the fourth season of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," in which she played lead character Will's old friend Jackie Ames. She made seven appearances throughout the series. Other screen credits include "Felicity," "MADtv," "Coyote Ugly" and "The Price Is Right" (guest-starring as a Barker's Beauty).