Tyra Banks

tyra banks was born on December 4, 1973 in Los Angeles California. tyra banks finished High School but didn't attend college. Although at the age of 17 when tyra banks was planning on attending Loyola Marymount University when Elite signed tyra banks . tyra banks , at the age of 20, was the first black woman to sign for a cosmetic company At the age of 23, tyra banks was the first black model to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated 's Swimsuit issue.

tyra banks has a love for children, animals and the enviorment. tyra banks also feels very strong about a good education. And that's what makes tyra banks stand out as a good role model. . Tyra currently is promoting a line of greeting cards for children and families, an organization dedicated to helping abused and neglected kids. The cards, Cards From The Heart by Tyra's Kidsuccess Kids, were created by children aged 8 and 9 in an after-school reading and arts program. The project is designed to enhance literacy for children living in troubled environments. tyra banks 's demonstrated tyra banks love for nature by journeying to the Costa Rican rainforest to bring the plight of that endangered ecosystem to the world's attention.

Career Highlights
Cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (1996)
Model for Victoria's Secret

Tyra was born in Los Angeles on December 4th, 1973, to a very loving and supportive family. Despite the divorce of tyra banks parents when tyra banks was only six years old, and the torments of tyra banks older brother Devin, Tyra's youth was happy and trouble-free. Though it might now be hard to believe, Tyra was a tall, skinny and awkward adolescent. tyra banks was constantly teased by tyra banks brother and her classmates, and often ran home crying to tyra banks mother for comfort. Then, late in high school, everything changed for her. tyra banks filled out tyra banks skinny frame, began to work out and finally decided to become a model. Tyra pursued that goal with the determination that now marks all of tyra banks activities.

And after being turned down by four modeling agencies because they thought tyra banks face wasn't photogenic, tyra banks was finally signed by the Elite agency when tyra banks was 17. So, instead of going to Loyola Marymount College, Tyra moved to Paris for a year and modeled for many of the big names in fashion, including Ralph Lauren and Chanel. tyra banks then moved back to the States and continued modeling, rocketing tyra banks way up through the ranks.

Soon Tyra began to diversify tyra banks activities, having a small part in the British television movie, Inferno as a supermodel, and then appearing on Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in a recurring supporting role. Tyra's first real movie role came in John Singleton's Higher Learning. tyra banks played Omar Epps' track-running girlfriend and though it was a small role, critics were impressed by the intensity tyra banks brought to the screen. tyra banks was definitely not just another supermodel playing at being an actress -- tyra banks performance was the real thing. tyra banks even did some distance-running training, in order to turn in a more believable performance. When the film came out, movie offers began to roll in, but Tyra chose not to act in just anything. Instead, tyra banks continued tyra banks meteoric rise in the modeling ranks, appearing on the covers of several magazines.

In fact, tyra banks was the first African-American woman ever to be featured on the covers of GQ magazine, the Victoria's Secret catalog, and the famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. tyra banks made People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" list not once, but twice, and even wrote a revealing book about tyra banks life, Tyra's Beauty Inside & Out. tyra banks also had a few high-profile relationships, first with John Singleton and then with pop singer Seal. tyra banks is rumored to have gone out with Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and... Mark Messier? Strangely enough, yes.

Sick of the constant scrutiny inherent in celebrity relationships, tyra banks returned to her high school sweetheart, a law student; but that didn't protect her from the rumors, most recently linking her with LA Lakers Kobe Bryant, Rick Fox, and even Teresa Weatherspoon, who plays for New York in the WNBA. In interviews, however, Tyra often says that tyra banks is looking for a "Normal Guy", albeit a tall one -- tyra banks measures 5'11". Tyra appeared in one or two movies during this time, but only really began to work in Hollywood last year, with a small part in Love Stinks. Then, the year 2000 brought with it a supporting role in the popular independent film Love & Basketball, and a starring role in the made-for-TV Disney movie Life-Size (in which tyra banks played a doll brought to life by a wish).

Now an important part in Coyote Ugly has brought Tyra back into the limelight. tyra banks plays a wild bartender, which is quite ironic because tyra banks has said several times that tyra banks doesn't drink alcohol. tyra banks doesn't watch what tyra banks eats, though, unlike most other models; tyra banks has gone on record stating that tyra banks often eats barbecued ribs, fried chicken wings, ice cream, and fast-food. In one talk show appearance, Tyra proclaimed her love for Ketchup packets, and argued that the sole purpose of french fries was to allow you to scoop up puddles of ketchup.

So how does tyra banks stay in shape? tyra banks plays lots of sports, particularly basketball and tennis, and makes sure tyra banks always has fun while exercising. The future looks bright for tyra banks . tyra banks stars in two upcoming movies, one of which -- Disney's Honey Thunder Dunk -- tyra banks will also be producing, tyra banks is one of the richest supermodels in the world, with a personal wealth recently valued at 8.8 million dollars, and there were even rumors a few months ago that Oprah Winfrey is grooming tyra banks to take over tyra banks show.