Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks is an American model, television personality, producer, writer, actress, and entrepreneur.

Tyra Banks is an American model, television personality, producer, writer, actress, and entrepreneur. She rose to international fame in the 1990s as a top fashion model and became widely known for hosting *America's Next Top Model* and *The Tyra Banks Show*.

What it is

Tyra Banks is a multifaceted entertainer and businesswoman. Born December 4, 1973, in Inglewood, California, she began modeling as a teenager and quickly became a leading figure in 1990s fashion. She was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005 and a face of CoverGirl. Banks also made history as the first Black woman to appear solo on the covers of *GQ* and the *Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue*.

Why it matters

Banks transformed her modeling success into a major television career, hosting *America's Next Top Model* from 2003 to 2015 and again from 2017 to 2018, and *The Tyra Banks Show* from 2005 to 2010, which won Daytime Emmy Awards. She is a pioneering Black figure in fashion media, expanding into acting, producing, writing, and entrepreneurship with ventures like Tyra Beauty.

Key details

Banks stands 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) and has been active since the 1990s. Her television work includes hosting and producing, and she has built a business portfolio in beauty and lifestyle. Canadian audiences know her through international fashion media and North American TV broadcasts like *America's Next Top Model*.