Tyra Banks Essay Example

Tyra Banks Paper There are a lot of great models in the world, models that have made a difference in young aspiring models’ lives. Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum, and Beverly Johnson are some examples. Many say that Tyra Banks is the best supermodel of all time. She produces a show that helps young ladies become successful models. Tyra Banks is a very important person to young â€Å"wannabe† models. Tyra Lynn Banks was born December 4, 1973 in Los Angeles, California but grew up in Inglewood, California. Her father, Don Banks, was a computer consultant, and her mother, Carolyn London, was a medical photographer. When Tyra was six years old, her parents got divorced. Tyra says she was too young for it to have much impact on her life. She lived with her mother on weekdays and her father on weekends. She always had two birthday parties and two Christmases, which meant double the presents, double the love. She was constantly teased by her older brother, Devin, and classmates because she was tall, very thin, and awkward looking. Her classmates gave her the nickname Giraffe. Some days she used to run home crying to ask her mother for help. Her liking for food such as BBQ ribs, fried chicken wings, ice cream and fast food was tremendous. We will write a custom essay sample on Tyra Banks specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Tyra Banks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Tyra Banks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Tyra also had a love for Ketchup packets. Therefore to stay fit in high school she enjoyed a lot of sports, mainly basketball, tennis, and also a lot of exercise. In 1989, at the age of 17, she outgrew her awkward phase and begun to resemble a tall, curvy, caramel-skin, green-eyed beauty. ( Tyra Banks Biography) Tyra decided to became a model, and she started working hard in order to change her skinny physique. Her goals were achieved. However her first attempt to find a modeling agency was met with rejection and discrimination. The agency said she looked too ethnic, or they already had a black model and didn’t want another. In 1990, while still in high school, she landed a contract with Elite Model Management, the largest model agency in the world. After graduating from Immaculate Heart High School in 1991, Tyra enrolled at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, but she decided to forego college when Elite offered to send her to Paris for high-fashion runway modeling. (Tyra Banks Biography) While in Paris, Tyra felt alone so he called her mother, who moved to Paris to be Tyra’s manager and best friend. Tyra moved swiftly through the ranks of fashion modeling to become one of the world’s top supermodels. By the end of the mid 1990s, Tyra decided to return to the United States and switch to swimwear and lingerie modeling, where curvier models are more than welcome. She made her living twenty or thirty pounds heavier than the average model and that’s when she really became famous. ( Bio of Tyra Banks ) While working as a Victoria’s Secret model Tyra sold more bras and panties than any of the other models all while walking down the runway weighing 30 pounds more than the other girls. She was on the cover of several magazines such as â€Å"GQ,† â€Å"Sports Illustrated Swimwear Edition,† and a Victoria’s Secret catalog. She signed a contract with both Cover Girl and Victoria’s Secret, becoming a staple of both companies’ advertising campaigns and runway shows. ( Bio of Tyra Banks) In 1997, she received the prestigious Michael Award for Supermodel of the year and also won two Teen Choice Awards for favorite supermodel. She funded a scholarship to help young black women attend her alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, California. In 1999, Tyra founded TZONE, a foundation aimed at developing teenage girl’s independence and self-esteem. Tyra Banks ventured into the world of reality television when she created, produced, and hosted â€Å"America’s Next Top Model. † The show, pits aspiring model against each other in a competition for the label of America’s Next top Model. In 2005, Tyra expanded her into television exposure with her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. Tyra Banks is still the best high fashion model in the world. She is dedicated to helping young girls build their character and be the best they can be. Tyra Banks is the most helpful person when it comes to modeling.