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Tyra Banks is a trailblazing supermodel, television personality, and entrepreneur who has left an indelible mark on the fashion and entertainment industries. As one of the most iconic models in fashion history, she shattered barriers and collected a long list of ‘firsts.’ An original Victoria’s Secret Angel, Banks also made history as the first female model to grace the cover of GQ and the first Black model to appear on the covers of the Victoria’s Secret catalog and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
 
Tyra has always believed in expanding the definition of beauty. She created and executive produced America’s Next Top Model to showcase the modeling industry and introduce unique beauties who, at the time, were not widely accepted in fashion. One of the longest-running reality TV series, ANTM spanned 24 cycles, aired in 180 countries, and led to over 40 official international versions, cementing its place as a global pop culture phenomenon. 
 
A true visionary with an unmatched ability to tap into the cultural pulse, Tyra didn’t just predict trends—she created them. She coined the word SMiZE (smile with your eyes), which became a global phenomenon—spoken, practiced, and embedded in pop culture worldwide.
 
In 2012, driven by a hunger to sharpen her entrepreneurial instincts, Tyra graduated from Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management program. A dynamic and engaging educator, she taught Branding at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business for three years, bringing her visionary approach to the classroom.
 
She was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment, and Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Smartest in Television. When Tyra took the helm as host of America’s Got Talent and Dancing with the Stars, both franchises saw significant viewership boosts.
 
Banks was also honored as one of Glamour magazine’s coveted Women of the Year, alongside former U.S. Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
 
Tyra has won two Emmy Awards for her talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, the first show ever to receive the award in the new informative category. Named twice to Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list, she also claimed the #1 spot on Forbes’ ranking of top-earning women in primetime for two consecutive years.
 
In May 2019, at 45 years old, Tyra broke beauty barriers once again, becoming the oldest model at the time to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue—22 years after her first. Her return shattered records, driving the highest traffic to SI.com in history.
 
An astute businesswoman, Tyra Banks has built a multifaceted brand that extends far beyond fashion and television. In homage to her mother, she founded SMiZE & DREAM, a rapidly expanding global ice cream company with a mission to inspire. Embodying Banks’ signature mix of fun, creativity, and empowerment, it features bold, inventive flavors and a hidden sweet treasure—the SMiZE SURPRiZE—a delicious and playful reminder to dig deeper, dream bigger, and leave ordinary behind. A philosophy passed down from Mama Carolyn to Tyra—now shared with the world, one scoop at a time.
 
Born and raised in Inglewood, California, Tyra now splits her time between the United States and Australia and is a proud mother to her son, York.