CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers

  CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers
  Tyra Banks (b. December 4, 1973 in Inglewood, California) is an American model and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model in Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, and New York, but television appearances were her breakthrough. Banks is the creator and host of the reality television show America's Next Top Model, co-creator of True Beauty, and host of her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show.    CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers
   Early Life

Supermodel. Born December 4, 1973 in Inglewood, California. Tyra Banks' father, Don Banks, was a computer consultant and her mother, Carolyn, was a medical photographer. Banks' parents divorced when she was only 6 years old, but she says that she was too young for the divorce to have much impact on her. "As far as I could see I had it made," Banks remembers. "I stayed with Mommy on the weekdays and Daddy on the weekends. I had two birthday parties, two Christmases. Double the presents, double the love."

Banks says that she developed a love for food—and not always healthy food—from a very young age, devouring fried chicken, candied yams and pork chops at family gatherings. "I was taught to enjoy food, not to fear it," Banks recalls. She developed healthier habits, too, and began working out with her mother's exercise group at the age of 6. After her grandmother passed away from lung cancer, Banks also vowed never to smoke.   CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers
  Banks confesses that she was somewhat of a "mean girl" in middle school. "I was popular, gossipy," she recalls, "and if I didn't want one of the other girls to be in the clique anymore, for whatever tiny little reason, I voted her out." When Banks attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, however, she found herself on the other end of the social food chain. A sudden growth spurt left her tall and gawky, and her classmates gave her the cruel nickname "Giraffe." "I went from being the popular girl who looked normal, to being considered a freak," Banks remembers. Nevertheless, Banks says that the teasing and abuse taught her the importance of kindness. "It turned out that the best things [to happen to me] in my life were to be made fun of, and to have no friends, and to feel miserable every single day."   CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers
   Pioneering Model

In 1996, Banks became the first black woman to appear on the cover of GQ as well as the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. A year later, she became the first African-American woman to appear on the cover of a Victoria's Secret catalog. She signed lucrative contracts with both Cover Girl and Victoria's Secret, becoming a staple of both companies' advertising campaigns and runway shows. Tyra Banks has been named multiple times to People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People list. In 1997, she received the prestigious Michael Award for Supermodel of the Year, and she has also won two Teen Choice Awards for Favorite Supermodel.   CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers
   In addition to her modeling work, Banks has also occasionally pursued acting work. She made her acting debut in 1993 with a seven-episode stint on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 2000, Banks appeared in a trio of popular films: Love & Basketball, Coyote Ugly and the made-for-TV movie Life Size. More recently, she guest-starred in an episode of the CW's popular teen TV-soap Gossip Girl.   CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers
     CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers    CelebSweet » Tyra Banks Wallpapers