In 1979, once Banks was six years old, her oldster single. Could you? Her father was employed as a computer consultant, and her mother worked as a photographer. She features a brother, Devin, who is 5 years older. Models., In 1990, she signed a contract with Elite Model Management, following which she was offered an opportunity to model in Europe. WebTyra Banks was born on 4 December 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA. In addition, Banks has expressed that she tends to avoid drinking and has never used alternative recreational medicine. But look in the mirror and find one thing that you like. She then went on to try her hand at writing, singing, acting, and teaching. Subsequently, she moved to Milan. As of 2005, more than 240 girls have gone through the program. Tyra started her career as a model at the age of 15 years old. Also known She went on to appear on many TV series like 'Gossip Girl' (2009), 'Shake It Up' (2012-13), 'Glee' (2013), and Black-ish (2015-16). [69] Banks has stated that she tends to avoid drinking and has never used other recreational drugs. In 1990, while still in high school, Banks landed a contract with Elite Model Management, the largest modeling agency in the world. She is a model along with being a businesswoman, producer, actress, and writer. Cossey had a small role in the James Bond movie The Living Daylights, posed for Playboy, and wrote an autobiography about her experiences as a transsexual model and actress called "I Am A Woman. Is Tyra Banks married Fresh Prince star Alfonso Ribeiro to co-host Dancing with the At what age did Tyra Banks start modeling? WebTyra Banks was born in Los Angeles December 4, 1973, to Carolyn and Don Banks. Thanks to such a huge organization . She completed her graduation from Harvard Business School. She was a Victorias Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005. Tyra Banks Parents, Ethnicity, Wiki, Biography, Age, Boyfriend, Son, Career, Net Worth & More. 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. [36][37] She also appeared as a guest in the animated talk show Space Ghost Coast to Coast in an episode entitled "Chinatown". Has ended her four-year relationship with banker John Utendahl [December 13, 2011]. WebWas Tyra Banks born a male? Friends with Alfonso Ribeiro, since elementary school. Around the time she was 11, she faced body shaming for being tall and skinny. Banks began acting on television in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993) and made her film debut in the drama Higher Learning (1995). [55], In 2014, Banks founded the cosmetics brand Tyra Beauty, which she completed a non-degree certificate program at Harvard Business School specifically for. Despite initial rejectionallegedly because of her ethnic lookBanks signed in 1990 for professional representation with Elite Model Management, one of the worlds top modeling agencies. WebTyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973), also known as BanX, is an American television personality, producer, businesswoman, actress, author, model, and occasional singer. "I stayed with Mommy on the weekdays and Daddy on the weekends. She also has her own production company, Bankable Productions, which produced The Tyra Banks Show, America's Next Top Model, and the 2008 film The Clique. Tyra Bankss net worth is approx $100 million. Banks was raised in Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles, where she attended a local all-girls Catholic school. Charriez was kicked off of America's Next Top Model and The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency TV shows in 2008, but went on to win the America's Next Top Transsexual Model contest on The Tyra Banks Show later that year. In the early 21st century Banks continued to expand her career, appearing in Coyote Ugly (2000), a rowdy coming-of-age feature film, and releasing a music single, Shake Ya Body (2004), which garnered little attention. Played as herself in the 1996 Nike commercials with basketball star. In 2008, Banks won the Daytime Emmy Award for her work and production on The Tyra Banks Show,[41] and won for the second time in a row for outstanding, informative talkshow in 2009. In 2011 Banks published the best-selling novel Modelland, based on her life and experiences in the industry, and launched a style and beauty website called typeF.com. Banks had small roles in the romantic sports film Love & Basketball (2000), the horror film Halloween: Resurrection (2002), and in the television series Gossip Girl (2009) and Glee (2013).[4][5]. India's Malika is a trans woman who has undergone four surgeries and countless other medical procedures to become the woman she feels she was meant to be at birth. She is hosting at Dancing with the Stars show. Argentinian Florencia De La V began life in 1976 as Roberto Carlos Trinidad, but she has since gone on to be one of the most recognizable transgendered actresses in the world. She was a Victorias Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005. I took guitar before well for two months but I remember nothing. In 2000 Banks appeared in a trio of popular films: Love & Basketball, Coyote Ugly and the made-for-television movie Life Size. One of her personal missions has been to help young women deal with self-esteem issues. WebBorn Darrell Walls in 1985, American model Isis King gained notoriety when she became the first transgender contestant ever to appear on the modeling reality show America's [43] She then co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in the Disney film Life-Size, playing a doll named Eve who comes to life. Banks has spoken out concerning abusive relationships in her past. It took me five years to learn what my best angles are. In 2005, once asked regarding her relationship history, she stated, I will not be employing a lot of names on the show, however, a particular relationship had not simply cheated however emotional abuse. 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. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. WebTyra Lynne Banks, born on December 4, 1973, is a popular and globally recognized television personality, model, actress, producer, writer, and businesswoman. [7][8] She is also one of only seventeen models to be ranked as a Legendary Supermodel by MODELS.com. Received a diploma from Harvard Business School's Executive Education Program [Februay 23, 2012]. Ans. Press Esc to cancel. In 2000, she had major film roles, such as Eve in Disney Channel's Life-Size and Zoe in the box-office hit Coyote Ugly. However, she moved to Paris even before starting college, after a French modeling agent selected her for the upcoming Paris fashion week. But it also brought us Tyra Banks, and for that, we must remain forever grateful. She is a producer and writer, known for Coyote Ugly (2000), Tropic Thunder (2008) and America's Tyra Banks is an American television personality. That's the lesson learned by Tyra Banks' transformation into a member of Chingy's posse. In February 2012, Banks completed a nine-week course at Harvard University's Owner/President Management non-degree extension program.[20][21]. And ever since that day that she died, I vowed to myself that I would not smoke cigarettes. It hit me after graduating from Harvard, we just have to do a college cycle! View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Devin Banks WebBorn in Inglewood, California, she began her career as a model at the age of 15, and was the first African-American woman to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, on which she appeared three times. She is also one of the few models to be named a Legendary Supermodel by MODELS.com., Notable Alumni: Immaculate Heart High School, U.S. State: California, African-American From California, See the events in life of Tyra Banks in Chronological Order, (Known for Her Reality Television Series America's Next Top Model), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7CfOhmuGO0, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tyra_Banks_2018_3.png, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGGoQyZA4fo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HqnOVCIIXo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsROR_TkkXw. Its a woman who gets artificially inseminated with the fathers sperm. She later hosted the reality TV program America's Next Top Model and her own daytime talk show, for which she won two Emmy Awards. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. Tyra Banks Banks walked a record 25 shows in her first season and subsequently appeared on the cover of the Spanish edition of the leading fashion magazine Vogue, and she was soon christened the new Naomi Campbell.. She is a model along with being a businesswoman, producer, actress, and writer. WebThat's the lesson learned by Tyra Banks' transformation into a member of Chingy's posse. In 1993, she became the first African-American model to sign a contract with CoverGirl cosmetics. She is a producer and writer, known for Coyote Ugly (2000), Tropic Thunder (2008) and America's [68], Banks dated Norwegian photographer Erik Asla during the 2010s, and in January 2016 they had a biological son born via surrogacy. What does this all mean? [79][80] As of 2012, Harvard professor Rohit Deshpande was preparing a case study on Banks's company, Bankable Productions, for use in future coursework in the OPM program. Banks confesses that she was somewhat of a "mean girl" in middle school. She is one of four African-American women to have been repeatedly featured on the list of the worlds most influential people by TIME magazine. Appeared (in heavy makeup) as the Alien hostess in. Banks was the co-creator of True Beauty and had her own program, The Tyra Banks Show, that aired on The CW for 5 seasons and won 2 Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding programs Informative. it absolutely was very dangerous, however, that created me robust. In 2009, she detached regarding her past relationships once she created a guest look on The Oprah Winfrey Show, hosting aboard Oprah Winfrey. In 2006 Top Model was chosen to headline the newly created CW television network. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. After graduating from high school in 1991, Banks enrolled at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, but decided to forego college when Elite offered to send her to Paris for high-fashion runway modeling. [25] In 1997, she received the VH1 award for "Supermodel of the Year". Published on February 24, 2020 01:01 PM. Casey Neistat Net Worth, Age, Height, Wife, Son, House |, Angel Del Villar Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Wedding, Net Worth,, FaZe Banks Net Worth 2023, Real Name, Age, Height,, Christie Brinkley Spouse, Bio-Wiki, Facts, Life, Career, Kevin Gates Net Worth, Age, Height, Wife, Brother, Songs,, Keri Hilson Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Husband, Bio-Wiki, Pascal Duvier Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Wife, Salary, Bio-Wiki, Sammy Kershaw Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Wife, Bio-Wiki, Michael Dodd Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Girlfriend, Bio-Wiki, Nick Mira Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Twitch, Bio-Wiki. Tyra Banks started her modeling career at the age of 15, while she was still in school. Banks took over hosting duties from Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews for the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars. She picked up a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on the show in 2008 a feat she repeated the following year as well. She was also featured on the cover of GQ as the first African-American woman. Find the latest Bollywood News and Celebrity Gossips from Latest In Bollywood. Banks completed the executive education training program in February 2012, earning a certificate. Meanwhile in 1995, she debuted on the big screen with the movie 'Higher Learning.' Kon Hai Alakh Pandey aka Physics Wallah Wife Shivani Dubey? In 2015, it launched tyra.com, an interactive cosmetic e-commerce website. So that is not just supermodel thin, that's just like, what's-wrong-with-her thin, and I had very low self-esteem because nothing I could do would make me gain weight. 'People' magazine named her one of the '50 Most Beautiful People in the World' in 1994. [83][84] She has also established the Tyra Banks Scholarship, a fund aimed at providing African-American girls the opportunity to attend her alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School. March 31, 2021 4:56 PM EDT. Banks is active in a number of social and charitable causes. Banks started her television career from The Fresh Prince of the Bel-Air in 1993 and made her good film in Higher Learning in 1995. Banks control a casting 69 decision to search for faces for her line, eventually choosing Melody Mercury, Monique Hayward, Katy Harvey, and high model Norge contestant Marita Gomsurd as the original beauty models of the cosmetic line. Later that year, she shot her first print piece for Seventeen magazine. Banks attended John Burroughs Middle School and graduated in 1991 from Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. Tyra Banks Claims that her career was difficult in part because of a rivalry with another black top model, Paid $30,000 of her own money to finance the music video for her song "Shake Ya Body," which appeared on her show. The talk show hostess goes undercover in Nov. 13th's episode as "Uncle Don," to find out Tyra Banks - Biography - IMDb She is the daughter of a medical photographer (mother), and a computer consultant (father). She also enrolled at Harvard Business School around this time, completing her special course for CEOs and other top executives in early 2012. In 2018, she co-authored a book titled Perfect is Boring along with her mother Carolyn London. ", "Tyra Banks Inks First-Look Deal With ABC Signature", "More Than Meets the Smize: A Look Inside Tyra Banks's Exploitative Empire", "Todrick Hall Releases New Album 'Femuline', "Tyra Banks, Supermodel, Talk Show Host, and Actress", "Tyra Banks' Modelland: A Masterwork of Modern Literature", Tyra Banks Talks 'Modelland', Harvard Business School (VIDEO), "Tyra Banks Is A New York Times Bestselling Author", "Tyra Banks to Teach Stanford M.B.A. Class", "Oprah: Tyra Banks Opens Up About Abusive Ex-Boyfriend", "Tyra Banks tells Oprah of her own abuse", "Owner/President Management: Program Objectives", "Tyra Banks a Harvard Business School Graduate? Here's Why Fans Are Starting To Think Tyra Banks Is The Real In 2019, Banks came out of her modeling retirement to pose for one of the three 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers; the other cover models being Camille Kostek and Alex Morgan. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In 2005, TZONE transformed from a camp into a public charity, the Tyra Banks TZONE.[85]. In 1994 and again in 1996 she was named one of People magazines 50 Most Beautiful People. She made her movie debut in the dramatic film Higher Learning (1995). Well, Not Exactly", "Tyra Banks: Fun, Fierce, and Financially Savvy", "Cast and credits of Hannah Montana: The Movie", "Can You Remember The Winners From The 1999 Teen Choice Awards? I had two birthday parties, two Christmases. Tyra Banks was born to Donald Banks ( Father ) and Carolyn London ( Mother ). In 2000, he played lead roles like Coyote in Disney Channels Life-Size and Zoe Ugly that hit on Box-office. Tyra Banks is an American media personality, actress, singer, model, and businesswoman who has a net worth of $90 million. the identical year, she was named Supermodel of the Year by VH1. Banks remembers that one agency said she looked "too ethnic" and another said that it "already had a Black woman and didn't want another.". Was Tyra Banks born The same year, she was named 'Supermodel of the Year' by VH1. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Lea has been called the muse of high fashion design house Givenchy. She is a supermodel, producer, author, and businesswoman who embodies the kind of multi-tasking ambition that typifies modern celebrity. Tyra Banks It topped the New York Times trade book list in 2011. And I salute you my amazing family of viewers; without you there never would have been a 'Tyra Show.' Her talk show won two 'Daytime Emmy Awards' for 'Outstanding Talk Show/Informative' in 2008 and 2009. Over a decade later, she chronicled her experience as a model in the novel 'Modelland' which ranked No.1 on 'The New York Times Best Seller' list in October 2011. Tyra Bankss religion is Christianity. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Tyra Banks holds American nationality. WebTyra Banks (TV Show Host) was born on the 4th of December, 1973. Despite initial discouragement from professionals, she eventually landed a high profile modeling assignment after being spotted by a French scout. She is hosting at Dancing with the Stars show. Tyra Banks started modeling at the age of 15. [2000], Size 9 shoe. WebTyra Banks, in full Tyra Lynne Banks, (born December 4, 1973, Inglewood, California, U.S.), American fashion model and television personality best known as a face of the cosmetics WebTyra Banks. [54] In August 2020, Banks signed a deal with ABC Signature. | [31] She also announced that she will now go by the modeling name BanX. Banks appeared in the fourth episode of the third season of Gossip Girl playing Ursula Nyquist, a larger-than-life actress. Banks, who rarely discusses her romantic life in public, has been involved with several celebrities over the years, including director John Singleton and basketball player Chris Webber. I stopped because of it. Tyra Banks is an American fashion model and television personality best known as a face of CoverGirl and the American retailer Victoria's Secret. In addition, she hosted The Tyra Banks Show, a daytime talk show aimed at younger women, which premiered on September 12, 2005, and ran until May 28, 2010. Her mother, Carolyn London (now London-Johnson), may be a medical artist, and her father, Donald Banks, may be a pc advisor. She attended John Burroughs Middle School and later she transferred to Immaculate Heart High School where she completed her schooling in 1991. Reluctant to follow a strict diet to stay skinny, as required by the industry, she decided to return to the USA in the mid-1990s to pursue a career in swimwear and lingerie modeling. WebFemale Galleries: Male Galleries: Gallery Updates: Top Photos: Popular Photos: Newest Photos: Tyra Banks : Photo Collection Born: December 4th, 1973 [49 yo] in Los Angeles, California, USA : 2.796 photos in this collection: Page 1 of 1: 1 : 3310 x 4634 1498 kb: 4512 x 3008 1334 kb: 3312 x 4637 1517 kb: She remained a government producer for the revival of the series, and noncommissioned Rita Ora as host for the 23rd cycle before reassuming the duties herself for the 24th cycle. Tyra Lynne Banks was born on December 4, 1973, in Inglewood, California. She has been an advocate against racism in Hollywood. Tyra Banks is an American television personality. American model and television personality. In 1992 she returned from Paris, and in 1993 she was featured in a recurring role on several episodes of the television comedy series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (199096), a Will Smith vehicle. WebRate Sabina Altynbekova a Kazakhstan volleyball player who caused controversy in Asian Junior Women's Volleyball Championship as she was described so pretty that the cameras would constantly focus on her causing rift and jealousy Brazilian Lea T. was born Leandro Cerezo in 1981, but that didn't stop her from becoming one of the most famous transsexual fashion models in the industry today. Banks started modeling at age 15 and, with the help of her mother, assembled a modeling portfolio. Tyra Banks was born to Donald Banks ( Father ) and Carolyn London ( Mother ). WebTyra Banks Gender: Female Age: 44 Born: December 4, 1973 Character: Bichette Occupation: Model, Actress, Author, Television Host Years Active: 1993-Present Tyra Lynne Banks, born December 4, 1973, is an American actress, television producer, author, television personality and former model. Banks dated Norwegian creative person Erik Asla throughout the 2010s, and in Jan 2016 theyd a biological son born via surrogacy. In both 2008 and 2009 The Tyra Banks Show won an Emmy Award for outstanding talk show in the newly created informative category. In 1979, once Banks was six years old, her oldster single. [67], In August 2016, Banks accepted a position as a personal branding guest lecturer at Stanford University. In 1979, once Banks was six years old, her oldster single. In 2017, Banks was the host of America's Got Talent for its 12th season. Photos of Old Hollywood Stars on Their Honeymoon, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Birth Year: 1973, Birth date: December 4, 1973, Birth State: California, Birth City: Inglewood, Birth Country: United States, Best Known For: A former supermodel, Tyra Banks turned her runway success into a multimedia brand and worked at the helm of two successful TV series simultaneously, 'America's Next Top Model,' and 'The Tyra Banks Show. As of2023,Tyra Banksnet worthis $90 million. Thailand's own Sirapassorn (AKA Sammy) Atthayakorn was named Miss International Queen in 2011's pageant. WebBackground information Born Tyra Lynne Banks December 4, 1973 (age 49) Inglewood, California, USA Nationality American Occupation Actress, producer, writer, author, TV personality & model Years active 1993 -present Partner Erik Alsa ( 2013 - Fresh Prince star Alfonso Ribeiro to co-host Dancing with the In the mid-1990s, because of her increasingly curvaceous figure, Banks began to lose runway assignments. Tyra Banks started her modeling career at the age of fifteen when she was still at school. She told People magazine that she decided to end her program to focus on "bringing positive images of women to the big screen.". .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Photos of Old Hollywood Stars on Their Honeymoon, Photos of Celebrities Partying in the '70s, How Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward Became Hollywood's Golden Couple. Tyra Banks On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Reluctant to follow a strict diet to remain skinny as needed by the business, she set to come back to the USA in the middle 1990s to pursue a career in swimwear and underclothing modeling. She was also featured on the cover of GQ as the first African-American woman. WebShe was born in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, on December 4, 1973. My fingers used to hurt really bad when I played guitar. Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973), also known as BanX,[2][3] is an American television personality, model, producer, writer, and actress. In 1996, Banks became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of GQ. In January 2016, Banks and her long-time boyfriend, Norwegian photographer Erik Asla, welcomed a baby boy, York Banks Asla. She has a brother named Devin who is 5 years older than her. In 1994, she started the Tyra Banks Scholarship. In her first runway season, she booked 25 shows in the 1991 Paris Fashion Week. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. "[71] In 2009, she opened up about her past relationships when she made a guest appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, hosting alongside Oprah Winfrey. Many people don't realize that transsexual models are popping up in magazines and on runways everywhere. As a model, she had the following restrictions: - No Frontal Nudity - No Birds - No Cats - No Fish - No Cigarettes - No Alcohol. "As far as I could see, I had it made," Banks remembers. Vogue's decision to ban images of women who 'appear to have an eating disorder' is a move that should be celebrated. She is a producer and writer, known for Coyote Ugly (2000), Tropic Thunder (2008) and America's Next Top Model (2003). Tyra Banksage 47 years. When she was rejected by 4 modeling agencies, then she signed to L.A. Models. Ans. Official Sites, The catchphrase - "art of smiling with your eyes", Named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by people magazine.(1994). Banks returned to the front of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition in 2019, 23 years after she first graced its cover. When Banks was 15 years old, she started modeling while attending school in Los Angeles. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. I was thin, I was 98 pounds, I was 5 foot 9, I was an inch shorter than I am now. Her father is a computer consultant while her mother is a medical photographer. WebShe was born to photographer Carolyn London, who has worked as her manager. Did Tyra Banks go to Harvard? Banks was the co-creator of True Beauty (20092010), and had her own television talk show, The Tyra Banks Show (20052010), which aired on The CW and won two Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Talk Show Informative. Her mother was a medical photographer, while her ", "Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'N Out Tyra Banks", "Bankable Productions Inks Deal with Warner Bros", "Tyra Banks Announces Plans to End Talk Show", "Ellen DeGeneres, Tyra Banks Win Daytime Emmys", "The Office's Melora Hardin on Jan and the show's finale - TV Previews", "Tyra Banks Cameos on Disney Channel's Shake It Up", "Tyra Banks To Co-Create And Produce ABC Comedy Series About Her Teen Years", "Tyra Banks Syndicated Talkshow 'The FAB Life' Adds Stations for Fall Premiere", "Tyra Banks Debuting New Talk Show 'The FAB Life', "Tyra Banks quits her own daytime show after two months", "Tyra Banks reveals Life-Size 2 premiere date", "Tyra Banks To Star & Executive Produce 'Beauty' Docuseries For Quibi", "Tyra Banks Sets First-Look Deal With Universal Television", "Tyra Banks Is Tapped as New 'Dancing With the Stars' Host. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. It's always tragic when https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tyra-Banks, Tyra Banks - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Attending Harvard Business School [January 1, 2012]. WebBorn in Inglewood, California, she began her career as a model at the age of 15, and was the first woman of African-American descent to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, on which she appeared thrice. [64] It was published in September 2011, intended to be the first of a planned three-part series;[65] Modelland topped The New York Times Best Seller list in October 2011. Tyra Banks was given the job of a lifetime when she became the mom of her only son, York Banks Asla. "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. 15 Black Women Who Changed the Game in Fashion In 2004, she recorded her opening single, Shake Yes Body, which featured a music video featuring contestants from cycle two of Americas Next Prime model. Tyra Banks WebShe was born on Tuesday December 4th 1973, in Inglewood, California, United States. [57] Banks held a casting call to find faces for her line, eventually selecting Melody Parra, Monique Hayward, Katy Harvey and Top Model Norge contestant Marita Gomsrud as the cosmetic line's original beauty models. [32] She made seven appearances in the series. In 201718 she hosted the reality TV series Americas Got Talent. Later TV work included appearances in Gossip Girl and Glee. Ans. People magazine named her one of the 50 most stunning individuals in the World in 1994. because of the 1st African-American model, she was featured on the covers of GQ magazine in 1996 and also the Sports Illustrated swimming costume Issue in 1997. Her parents divorced when she was six years old, following which she and her brother lived with their mother on weekdays and visited their father on weekends. The show, which won two back-to-back Daytime Emmy awards, ran for five seasons.