A top supermodel throughout the '90s and '00s, Banks was always more than just a pretty face and perfect body. Her résumé boasts stints as an actress, recording artist, author, talk-show host and reality-TV queen. In the '90s she had guest roles on
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and
Felicity while continuing to appear in magazines and on runways. But superstardom came in 2003 when Banks signed on to the reality competition
America's Next Top Model. As producer, host and often teary judge, she charmed viewers by acting as mother hen to the young hopefuls. Her prime-time popularity inspired her to launch her own eponymous daytime talk show in 2005. Off screen, the beauty has used her charms on director John Singleton, singer Seal and basketball player Chris Webber.
Tyra Banks Fast Facts:
- Turned down by four agencies before signing with Elite Model Management in 1990 and moving to Paris.
- Appeared in Michael Jackson's "Black or White" video in 1991.
- Played a supermodel in her film debut, the 1992 British TV-movie Inferno.
- Made feature-film debut in then-boyfriend John Singleton's Higher Learning in 1995.
- In 1997, became the first African-American model to grace the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
- Published Tyra's Beauty Inside & Out in 1997.
- Created TZONE in 1999, a Southern California camp aimed at building self-esteem in teenage girls.
- Released debut single "Shake Ya Body" in 2004.
- Tyra Banks Relationships:
- Carolyn London-Johnson - Mother
- Clifford Johnson - Stepfather
- Devin Banks - Brother
- Donald Banks - Father
- Chris Webber - Ex-significant Other
