Personal Details :
- Full Name: Tyra Lynne Banks
- Date of Birth: December 4, 1973
- Age: 51 (as of 2025)
- Place of Birth: Inglewood, California, USA
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: African-American
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
- Weight: Approximately 159 lbs (72 kg)
- Hair Color: Brown
- Eye Color: Green/Hazel
- Religion: Christian background (non-denominational)
- Languages: English (native), basic Spanish & French (limited)
- Education: Immaculate Heart High School, Los Angeles; executive business training at Harvard Business School
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
- Marital Status: Never married
- Partner(s):
- Erik Asla (Norwegian photographer, former partner)
- Louis Bélanger-Martin (current partner since 2018)
- Children: 1 son — York Banks Asla (born January 2016 via surrogate)
- Residence: Los Angeles, California; also spends time in Sydney, Australia
Social Media Presence :
- Instagram: @tyrabanks
- Twitter (X): @tyrabanks
- Facebook: Tyra Banks
- YouTube: Tyra Banks Daily
- TikTok: @smizecream (brand-related)
- LinkedIn: Tyra Banks
Career Overview :
- Early Modeling Career (1990s):
- Started modeling at age 15 and was rejected by four agencies before being signed by L.A. Models, then Elite Model Management at age 17.
- Moved to Paris and walked in 25 shows during her debut Paris Fashion Week in 1991.
- Featured in major fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar.
- Modeled for high-end brands like Chanel, Valentino, and Yves Saint Laurent.
- Breakthrough Success:
- Became one of the original Victoria’s Secret Angels (1997–2005).
- First African-American woman to appear on the covers of:
- GQ (1996)
- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (1997)
- Victoria’s Secret catalog
- Named “Supermodel of the Year” by VH1 in 1997.
- Acting & Television Career:
- TV debut on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Jackie Ames (1993).
- Appeared in films such as:
- Higher Learning (1995)
- Love & Basketball (2000)
- Coyote Ugly (2000)
- Life-Size (2000) and Life-Size 2 (2018)
- Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
- Media Mogul & Host:
- Created and hosted America’s Next Top Model (2003–2015, 2016–2018), a global franchise with 30+ versions.
- Hosted The Tyra Banks Show (2005–2010), winning two Daytime Emmy Awards.
- Host of:
- FABLife (2015)
- America’s Got Talent (2017–2018)
- Dancing with the Stars (Season 29, 2020)
- Business Ventures:
- Founded Bankable Productions, which produced ANTM and other media projects.
- Launched Tyra Beauty (2014), a cosmetics brand after completing a business program at Harvard.
- Published a novel, Modelland (2011), which became a New York Times bestseller.
- Launched SMiZE Cream, a premium ice cream brand with global expansion plans.
- Recent & Ongoing Work:
- Executive produced Generation Drag (2022), a Discovery+ show supporting LGBTQ+ youth.
- Actively developing international business ventures, including a retail presence in Australia (Sydney).
- Rebranded her media company to SMiZE Productions in 2023.
Personal Life & Interests :
- Birth Name: Tyra Lynne Banks
- Parents: Carolyn London (photographer/medical manager) and Donald Banks (computer consultant)
- Siblings: One older brother, Devin Banks
- Child: Son named York Banks Asla (born January 2016 via surrogate), with former partner Erik Asla
- Relationship Status: Previously in a long-term relationship with photographer Erik Asla; currently linked to businessman Louis Bélanger-Martin (since 2018)
- Residence: Based in Los Angeles, with a part-time residence in Sydney, Australia
- Education: Graduated from Immaculate Heart High School in L.A.; completed an executive education program at Harvard Business School
- Religion: Raised Christian; describes herself as spiritual
- Hobbies & Interests:
- Cooking and baking
- Reading and writing (especially fiction)
- Business strategy and branding
- Ice cream development (inspired her brand SMiZE Cream)
- Fun Fact: Despite her confident public image, Tyra has openly discussed dealing with body image issues and self-doubt early in her career
- Philanthropy: Founded the TZONE Foundation and the Tyra Banks Scholarship to empower young women and African-American students
Net Worth :
- Estimated Net Worth (2025): Approximately $90 million
- Celebrity Net Worth and multiple financial outlets estimate her fortune at $90 million .
- Some sources place the estimate at $90–100 million, factoring in real estate, business, and royalties .
- Major Income Sources:
- Modeling: 1990s supermodel earnings, runway and magazine contracts (~$20M total estimated) .
- Television & Production: Creator/host of *ANTM*, talk shows, *Dancing with the Stars*, production company Bankable/SMiZE Productions (~$50M estimate) :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
- Business Ventures: Includes Tyra Beauty, SMiZE Cream, real estate investments (~$10M each) .
- Asset Highlights:
- Real estate holdings across California and New York valued at $25–30 million .
- Ongoing royalty income from syndicated TV shows and streaming rights .
Awards & Achievements :
- Supermodel of the Year – VH1 (1997): Recognized for her impact and dominance in the modeling industry.
- First African-American Woman to appear on the covers of:
- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (1997)
- GQ (1996)
- Victoria’s Secret Catalog
- Two-time Daytime Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Talk Show Informative (2008, 2009) – The Tyra Banks Show
- TIME 100 Most Influential People – Named to the list in recognition of her cultural impact and media leadership.
- Teen Choice Awards Nominee – Multiple nominations for her work on America’s Next Top Model.
- GLAAD Media Award Nominee – For promoting diversity and inclusion in fashion and entertainment.
- Harvard Business School Program Graduate – Completed the Owner/President Management program (2012), applauded for blending business and entertainment.
- BET Honors – Media Award – Honored for her contributions to Black excellence in media.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame (unofficial nomination): Long-rumored nominee for her contributions to television and pop culture.
Fun Facts :
- Tyra Banks started modeling at age 15 and was rejected by four agencies before being signed.
- She gained 30 pounds in just a few months during a break from modeling, which later fueled her advocacy for body positivity.
- Her favorite dessert is ice cream — so much so that she created her own brand, SMiZE Cream, which includes a “smize surprise” inside every scoop.
- She coined the term “smize,” short for “smile with your eyes,” which became iconic in fashion and pop culture.
- Tyra has appeared in music videos for stars like Michael Jackson (Black or White) and George Michael.
- She once pretended to be a janitor to surprise aspiring models for a social experiment on her talk show.
- She wrote a young adult fantasy novel called Modelland, inspired by her modeling experiences.
- Tyra is a skilled photographer and often shoots behind the scenes on her own sets.
- She completed an executive business program at Harvard but has never claimed to have a full MBA, despite public misconceptions.
- Tyra has her own Barbie doll, launched in her likeness during the height of her modeling fame.
- She keeps a journal and practices daily affirmations — she’s said to write “I am strong. I am beautiful.” every morning.