Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973) is an American supermodel, television personality, talk show host, actress, and singer. She first emerged to prominence on the catwalks of Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, and New York, but her work in the commercial world was her breakthrough. She is best known as hostess/judge of the reality television show America's Next Top Model since its 2003 debut, and is currently hosting her own Daytime Emmy Award-nominated talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. Banks is one of four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine. Banks 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 2004, she recorded her first single, "Shake Ya Body", which had a music video featuring the America's Next Top Model, Cycle 2 contestants.(Music Video) The video's world premiere was aired on UPN, but the single was a failure for Banks. She stated on Cycle 2 of Top Model that "Singing has been a passion of mine for a long, long time...6 years on the down low - been ducking in and out of studios cutting tracks," but on her talk show she stated, "I can't believe I wasted 6 years of doing something that I didn't finish...I was almost able to release my album 'T.Y.R.A' but since my music career hit rock bottom I quit." Though "Shake Ya Body" was a failure, record producer Darkchild told JET in 2004 that Banks "has what it takes to pull it off...she had a hungriness to want to be in the studio all the time. Some people want to be divas in the studio and work for three or four hours. You had to tell Tyra to stop or she will keep you going".[8] As for her voice, Jerkins stated, '"People will be shocked. She can really sing, she's like between soprano and high alto. I challenged her vocally. I pushed her, but not too far. I pushed her where vocally it fit the track."[8] Banks released a single with NBA star Kobe Bryant, titled "K.O.B.E.", which was performed on NBA TV, and had a single/soundtrack from the Disney movie Life-Size called "Be A Star". She is rumored to begin working with producers JR Rotem, Stargate, and Eddie Galan on upcoming new material. She also sang in the musical/movie Eight Crazy Nights and is credited with performing the theme song to America's Next Top Model. Date of Birth 4 December 1973, Los Angeles, California, USA Birth Name Tyra Lynne Banks Nickname BBQ Height 5' 9" (1.75 m) Trivia Has an older brother named Devin. CEO of her own company TYInc. Dated John Singleton. Named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by people magazine.(1994) In 1994, she started the Tyra Banks Scholarship. Professional model. Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the most beautiful people in the world. [1996] First African American model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition Is a "Youth Correspondent" for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986), and there is speculation that Oprah Winfrey is training Tyra to eventually take over the show (as of February 2000). Took Second Place by the readers of Black Men Magazine for "The 10 Sexiest Women of the Year." [2000] Measurements: 34C-23 1/2-35 1/2. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Size 9 shoe. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Does not drink alcohol. Dated Sacramento Kings player Chris Webber for over three years Started a singing career with the song "Shake Ya Body", introduced on her show "America's Next Top Model" (2003). Ranked 54 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties Claims that her career was difficult in part because of a rivalry with another black top model, Naomi Campbell. Banks has said that Campbell, who was more famous, would get her thrown off of fashion shows. Paid $30,000 of her own money to finance the music video for her song "Shake Ya Body," which appeared on her show "America's Next Top Model" (2003). Created TZONE, a leadership and life skills development program for primarily disadvantaged teen girls in the greater Los Angeles area. As of 2005, more than 240 girls have gone through the program. Was accepted at UCLA and USC. Signed with Elite Model Management her senior year of high school. Her mother, Carolyn London, is a professional photographer, and worked as her manager. Grew up in Inglewood, California. Her friends used to call her "The Black Widow" because she used to break up with men she was dating before they would break up with her. Her mother Carolyn London is her best friend. Her brother Devin's ex-wife and children appeared on an episode of "America's Next Top Model" (2003) when the models are in Japan. When she was eleven, she grew four inches and lost 30 pounds. Her older brother Devin who tormented her as a child. As adults, the two are friends. Her parents, Carolyn London and Don Banks, divorced when she was six years old. Is allergic to dogs. In 2005, she revealed on "The Tyra Banks Show" (2005) that her measurements are 34-28-40. She and Naomi Campbell reconciled on her talk show, "The Tyra Banks Show" (2005) (November 2005). Received the Michael Award for "Supermodel of the Year." Was named "Woman of the Year" for 2000 by Sports Illustrated. Served as maid of honor at the wedding of best friend Kimora Lee to Russell Simmons Her first name is an old Danish name, originally from the vikings. Godmother of Kimora Lee's and Russell Simmons's daughter Ming Lee Played as herself in the 1996 Nike commercials with basketball star Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway and "Little Penny" Hardaway (voice of Chris Rock). As a model, she had the following restrictions: - No Frontal Nudity - No Birds - No Cats - No Fish - No Cigarettes - No Alcohol. As of February 2007, cites "Heroes" (2006/II) as her favorite TV show, and her favorite Heroes character as Hiro, played by Masi Oka. Says her favorite cycle of "America's Next Top Model" (2003) is Cycle 1, because the girls did not know what to expect. Chosen by FTC Publications Class-Elite Magazine (USA) as "The Role Model for Models" [2007]. She was raised in Inglewood, California with her brother Devin, and attended Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girl, independent Catholic private school in Los Angeles. One of only two people to ever receive the editor's copy of the FTC Publications International Model's Guide. The other was Naomi Campbell. Wore braces for two and a half years to straighten her teeth. While a high school student, Tyra applied to five colleges with the intention of majoring in film and television production. Within Banks' first week 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. Attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, California, a popular Catholic girls' school, where she claims that her classmates made fun of her because of her height and weight. One of only four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine. In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $18 million. Until season 4 of America's Next Top Model, she would spend an hour with every girl who got kicked off the show talking with them in private. The producers asked her to stop this. She is of Native American descent and has been an advocate against racism in Hollywood. Personal Quotes Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It's about accepting all of yourself. You've got to learn to accept the fool in you as well as the part that's got it goin' on. Black women have always been these vixens, these animalistic, erotic women. Why can't we be the sexy All-American girl next door? Believe it or not, I just really know how to pose well. It took me five years to learn what my best angles are. [On Adrianne Curry's complaints that she did not receive what was promised her as the winner of "America's Next Top Model" (2003).] I have an invested interest in all the girls. I take Adrianne's struggles to bed with me at night. Adrianne's problem was that she went to Europe to try to make it and nobody knew who she was there. So it was like starting over. But after a girl leaves the show it's really up to her to be aggressive and try to succeed. I'm a perfectionist. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it's OK if there are flaws here and there.