Message from the Publicist of Tyra Lynne Banks

Emmy Award-Winning Hosts Rachael Ray and Tyra Banks Team Up to Launch 'If You Can ... We Can' to Help Supply Emergency Food to Hungry New Yorkers

Boston Market and Del Monte Foods Inc. Join the Daytime Hosts in Providing Much Needed Food Donations To the City's Neediest

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Tyra Lynne Banks Biography

TYRA BANKS AS MICHELLE OBAMA IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Who knew Harper's Bazaar was so interested in politics?

Who usually would have cared?

Well, bounding over the Pop Culture landscape, we do.

And who knew Tyra Banks, a constant contender for the title of "Hardest Working Woman in Show Biz," could pull off impersonating high office, comedy, fashion and an incredible sense of timing and the absurd?

We do now.

Harper's have Tyra doing her best Michelle Obama, from the campaign trail to the Oval Office to the personal Presidential bedroom, in their September issue.

Tyra Banks is no stranger to daring hairstyles. (Remember this crazy curled updo?) At the Daytime Emmy Awards, her show scored a win — but do you think this blonde, Barbie-esque hair works for her? And do you also think that Tyra's not really "smiling with her eyes" here?
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Tyra Banks recently accepted her Daytime Emmy Award in the informative Talk Show category for the Tyra banks show. Check out these words from her acceptance speech.

“I want to thank Oprah Winfrey for her inspiration…She is the queen. She will always be the queen. They said that The Tyra Banks Show would last two weeks and we are entering our fourth season this September.”

“I just have a message for everybody out there: When you have a dream, there are going to be so many people out there who tell you you cannot do it, that you are not good enough. And I want you to tell them to kiss your dimply, flat, juicy, bootylicious, skinny, jiggly, saggy, fat ass!”
Source: E! Online

at fight! Janice Dickinson trashes Tyra Banks�Janice Dickinson is pissed at Tyra Banks. Apparently, Banks was photographed holding Dickinson's book No Lifeguard on Duty. In the book, the self-proclaimed "World's First Supermodel" talks about her drug abuse, the incest that plagued her childhood, sex, and affairs with celebrities. When Banks was photographed holding the book, she was allegedly on her way to speak to a crowd of young girls and offer her wisdom (as only Tyra can do).

Tyra Banks was born in Los Angeles, California, USA to Don Banks and Carolyn London. She was raised in Inglewood, California with her brother Devin, and attended Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girls, independent Catholic private school in Los Angeles. Growing up, she was very thin and often teased; she was considered to be "ugly." Banks later said that this was a very difficult period for her and she developed a "very strong self-image problem."

Dickinson told Page Six: "And she's using my book. I mean, the thing looks so worn it's like she's been reading it on the toilet. It's pathetic. Where's her originality? Does she have no shame?"
Is Janice Dickinson really pissed about this? I think it's kind of small...even for supermodel melodrama. She acts like Tyra threw a phone at her a la Naomi Campbell. But, this could be an interesting and highly publicized feud. Like LC vs. Heidi and Spencer except way better, right? Tyra will talk about it on her show when she's supposed to be interviewing guests. Janice will flip out about it on The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (she's filming the fourth season now in L.A.) It could be good.

Janice is working on another book too: Fifty and Fabulous. But Tyra will have to wait another twenty years or so before she steals that one for her inspirational speeches

Tyra Banks

In 1991, Banks was about to begin her freshman year at Loyola Marymount University when Elite Model Management gave the 17-year-old her first modeling job. Prior to this entry into the fashion world, Banks had been rejected several times for modeling assignments. Some had objected to Banks' high forehead. In fact, she states that she did not consider her first job to be the start of a long career in fashion: "An agent saw pictures of me and said that I was the only girl she wanted to take back to Paris... I didn't leave thinking I was going to be some big fashion model. I just wanted to make money for college."^[2]

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Career

Banks being the first African-American featured on the cover of GQ.Banks' career took off when she made the move from high-fashion to a commercial market. She was the first African-American to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue, but is most noted for her work as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, Victoria's Secret model, and talk-show hostess. In 1997 she won the prestigious Michael Award for "Supermodel of the Year". Banks has done runway shows in Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo and the U.S. and has been featured in many magazines, television commercials, and on billboard advertisements. Her modeling credits include runway and/or print work for Cover Girl, Swatch, Pepsi, Nike, Inc., XOXO, LensCrafters, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint-Laurent, Chanel, Escada, Anna Sui, Michael Kors, Liz Claiborne, and Richard Tyler (designer). Banks has appeared on many international magazines, including the covers of Vogue, ELLE, Amica, ELLEgirl, L'Officiel, Harper's Bazaar, Photo, Cosmopolitan, Essence, and Sports Illustrated.

Banks stood out from the stick-thin waiflike models who were in Vogue when she first entered the modeling industry, and had to work hard to persuade modeling agencies to take a chance on her more voluptuous physique. To give herself more options, Banks decided to branch out from high fashion into the commercial fashion industry. She later commented: " I told my agency to call Victoria's Secret, and I told them to call Sports Illustrated... I said [that] my body is changing, and seamstresses are calling me 'grosso' in Italian, and I know what the hell that means. And I'm not about to starve."

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Banks addressed her physique in an interview with The Sun, saying, "I am totally against plastic surgery. A lot of people think I have breast implants because I have the biggest boobs in the business. But I was a 34C when I was 17. They stay up when I wear a push-up bra. But if people could see me when I come home and take off my bra, how could they think these are fake?". She is known for being proud of her more curvaceous body type, and once commented, "Some models are quite flat-chested so they can run around without bouncing. I can't. Black women don't have the same body image problems as white women. They are proud of their bodies."

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Despite her phenomenal success as a supermodel, Banks began venturing from modeling to becoming a so-called media "personality" after 2000. She is the hostess, head judge, and an executive producer of the UPN (now the CW) television show America's Next Top Model. She also receives executive producer credits for all ANTM spinoffs. Banks also enjoyed a brief stint as a recording artist. During season two of America's Next Top Model, the contestants danced in her first music video for the single Shake Ya Body (Music Video) produced by experienced record producer Darkchild. Banks also acts as the patron for TZONE[1], a leadership program created by Banks for young girls that according to the organization, "reinforces core values of trust and support, challenges teen girls to resist negative social pressures, and enhances self-empowerment—inspiring girls to become confident leaders in their communities." She has also established the Tyra Banks Scholarship, a fund aimed at providing African-American girls the opportunity to attend her alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School.

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Banks retired from modeling in May 2005. She made her final walk down the runway at the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Banks said the reason she retired from the runway was so she could concentrate more on her television show.

Banks' television career began on the fourth season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in which she played Jackie, Will's ex-girlfriend. She also appeared on Felicity. She is now the executive producer, host and head judge of the hit TV show America's Next Top Model. She also currently hosts The Tyra Banks Show, a daytime talk show which premiered on September 12, 2005 and recently began its second season. The show now drew over 1.9 million viewers. The show features stories about everyday people mixed in with celebrity interviews, much like the early format of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Under the slogan "Every woman has a story," Banks promotes her show using emotional flashbacks to her own childhood and adolescence. Many of the episodes deal with issues facing women today. She once starred in an episode of MADtv. Banks has also starred as the fictitious brought to life doll 'Eve' in the Disney film Life-Size, along side Lindsay Lohan. She also appeared on Nick Cannon's Wild 'N Out, as a special guest host / team captain.

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Banks appeared in Michael Jackson's "Black or White" video in a scene in which Glen Chin morphs into her, in George Michael's "Too Funky" video (with fellow supermodel Linda Evangelista), and in a Lionel Richie video. 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, which was world premiere on UPN, but the single was a failure for Banks. She has also had a single with NBA star Kobe Bryant, "K.O.B.E. which was preformed on NBA.Tv," and has a single/soundtrack from the Disney movie Life-Size, called "Be A Star". She also sang in the musical/movie "Eight Crazy Nights". She quoted on her show to Carmen Electra, "Girl, that makes the two of us with music videos that people didn't like." On her interview with JET, she said she hopes to have an album and has recorded many songs, 5 of them on her upcoming album, T.Y.R.A.

Recorded Tracks

"Feelin U" ft Wyclef Jean
"Baby" (Banks intentional 2nd single. This song has been leaked into the internet)
"Beautiful" (Banks next single)
"How U Doin Dat" ft Timbaland
"Kinda Hot"

Movies

Banks has had minor roles in a few movies over the years. Her debut in movies came in 1995 when she co-starred in the critically acclaimed drama Higher Learning. She also co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in the Disney film Life-Size, playing a doll named Eve who comes to life. She co-starred in 1999's Love Stinks, 2000's Coyote Ugly, and 2002's Halloween: Resurrection – the eighth film in the Halloween franchise.

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Tyra Banks poses in a green Bikini

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Banks on the cover of People Magazine defending herself as not being too fat according to a recent paparazzi photo.

Banks has been romantically involved with a number of public figures (including director John Singleton, investment banker Craig Davis, basketball player Chris Webber, and musician Seal). Though she has stated that she prefers to date non-celebrities, as she strongly dislikes and wishes to avoid the intense pressure and media scrutiny that come with being in a relationship with another famous person. On May 8, 2006, Banks was named as one of the world's 100 most influential people by TIME magazine.

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She has an extreme phobia of dolphins, a fear she faced in her daytime talk show.^[3] Banks recently stated that she would not allow any future photographs of herself to be digitally touched up; rather, she will rely solely on makeup and hairstyling to enhance her appearance.^{[citation needed]} Pictures released in late 2006 showed a significant weight gain; Banks said that she was "upset" when rude comments were posted on a gossip website

According to the December 5, 2006 edition of Entertainment Tonight, she wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up.

Tyra also works as a photographer and a motivational speaker for young girls in her spare time.

After a recent paparazzi photo which showed Tyra wearing a bathing suit in Sydney, which people thought that Banks has gained weight up to 200 lbs., and she has losen up her supermodel body type. Tyra was later featured on the cover of People Magazine and said "You call this fat?". Tyra is currently 161 lbs.

Filmography

Higher Learning (1995)
A Woman Like That (1997)
Love Stinks (1999)
Love & Basketball (2000)
Coyote Ugly (2000)
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Eight Crazy Nights (2002) (voice)
Larceny (2004)

Television work

Inferno (1992)
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993)
The Apartment Complex (1999)
Life-Size (2000)
America's Next Top Model (2003-present)��

The Tyra Banks Show (2005-present)

Tyra, Kimora, and what seems to be Jessica White- , look like they havin fun to me. I love how women are with one another...very comfortable. By the looks of these pics, these gals are EXTREMELY comfortable.. I wonder if Queen Latifah is sittin on the otherside of Jessica White.

TYRA: Girl, dont fret, I'm gon make it all better. Let Russell spend 90% of his day doin Yoga, while you walk around the house in pink mink pumps and booty shorts, yellin at your Columbian nanny.

Tyra, Kimora

America's Next Top Model - Tyra Banks' Leona Lewis singalong

Friday, 18 April 2008

Tyra Banks and Leona Lewis had a sing-off in Los Angeles this week during an episode of the former supermodel's chat show.

According to Scotland's Daily Record newspaper, Leona helped the host of America's Next Top Model "channel her inner voice" on the show.

Leona is currently making a number of public appearances in the US to promote her new disc Spirit, which debuted at number one on the country's album chart this week.

Meanwhile, UK fans of all things Top Model are gearing up for the return of Britain's Next Top Model, which is set to start on Living on Monday evening.

Rochdale-born beauty consultant Louise Heywood is in the running to compete in the programme, which is fronted by Lisa Snowdon.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the 20-year-old said she would be willing to relocate to London to pursue a career in modelling if her time on the programme is a success and added that she might try to persuade her fraternal twin sister Michelle to join her.

The Hamptons connection

Seems like talk show hostess and supermodel Tyra Banks keeps popping up more and more in the Hamptons these days. One reason might be that the media maven's boyfriend, investment banker John Utendahl, has owned a home on the East End since 1978.

According to public records, Utendahl, who was listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “75 most powerful blacks on Wall Street,” owns a 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath home on Pheasant Run in Quogue. Included on the one-acre spread is a Gunite pool. The home is valued at about $1.4 million, according to tax records.

Other notable Quogue residents include opera great Kathleen Battle, architect Jay Sears, and Aretha Franklin’s longtime manager, Ruth Bowen.

Utendahl has dated Banks since last summer. The pairTyra Banks Makes “Bank”�

Retired supermodel Tyra Banks is making more now than ever before!

Tyra Banks, supermodel-turned-TV mogul is giving Oprah Winfrey a run for her money!

When the model was 15 years old and first began her career stomping down runways and looking “fierce,” she made a good amount of money. However, the real dough did not start rolling in until she graced the covers of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue and GQ, making her the first black woman to do either. This led to the model being contracted to model Victoria’s Secret lingerie.

With her daytime talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, and America’s Next Top Model, the 34-year-old model earned at least $18 million last year, which is a great deal more than most supermodels in the world. This ranked her number 61 on the 2007 Forbes Celebrity 100 money list, a bit behind Oprah, who made $260 million.
Now, Banks reportedly earns $50,000 a day! According to the New Zealand Herald, with advertisers flocking to her new show, Banks could serve as some competition for Winfrey, whose network makes about $1.4 billion

Tyra may think her new color is gold thanks to the questionable trophy she took home at the Daytime Emmys, but she needs realize that her matching metallic dress and crispy coif are causing us considerable pain