[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tyra_banks_2011.jpeg]]

->''"Black women have always been these vixens, these animalistic erotic women. Why can't we just be the sexy American girl next door?"''

Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973 in Inglewood, California) is an African-American [=supermodel=], {{act|ors}}ress, TV talk show host, {{author|s}} (''Tyra Banks Basic Face'', and ''Literature/{{Modelland}}''), and TV producer from Inglewood, UsefulNotes/{{California}}.

She first became famous for her appearances in the ''Magazine/SportsIllustrated'' Swimsuit Issue where, in 1997 she became the first African-American model to appear solo on the cover.[[note]]She had appeared with Valeria [=Mazza=] the year before.[[/note]] She also created the RealityShow ''Series/AmericasNextTopModel''. She also has branched out into acting, with roles in such films as ''Film/HigherLearning'', ''Film/CoyoteUgly'' and ''Film/HalloweenResurrection''.
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!!Acting credits
* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' (1993) as Jackie Ames
* ''Film/HigherLearning'' (1995) as Deja
* ''Series/AllThat'' (1996) as Customer
* ''Series/NewYorkUndercover'' (1997) as Natasha Claybourne
* ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast'' (1998) as herself (voice)
* ''Series/JustShootMe'' (1999) as herself
* ''WesternAnimation/HappilyEverAfterFairyTalesForEveryChild'' (1999) as Barbie Q. Pepper (voice)
* ''Film/LoveStinks'' (1999) as Holly Garnett
* ''Series/TheHughleys'' (1999) as Nicole
* ''Series/MadTV'' (2000) as Katisha
* ''Film/LoveAndBasketball'' (2000) as Kyra Kessler
* ''Film/LifeSize'' (2000) as Eve
* ''Film/CoyoteUgly'' (2000) as Zoe
* ''Series/{{Felicity}}'' (2000) as Jane Scott
* ''Film/SoulFood'' (2001) as Nina Joseph
* ''Film/HalloweenResurrection'' (2002) as Nora Winston
* ''WesternAnimation/EightCrazyNights'' (2002) as Victoria's Secret Gown (voice)
* ''Series/AmericanDreams'' (2004) as Carolyn Gill
* ''Film/MrWoodcock'' (2007) as herself
* ''Film/TropicThunder'' (2008) as herself
* ''Literature/GossipGirl'' (2009) as Ursula Nyqvist
* ''Series/ShakeItUp'' (2012-13) as Mrs. Burke
* ''Series/{{Glee}}'' (2013) as Bichette
* ''Series/BlackIsh'' (2016) as Gigi

!!Other credits
* ''Series/AmericasNextTopModel'' (2003-15, 2018) -- Creator, producer, and judge. She also hosted all seasons with the exception of Cycle 23 (which was hosted by Music/RitaOra).
* ''The New Celebrity [[Series/TheApprentice Apprentice]]'' (2017) -- Judge
* ''Series/AmericasGotTalent'' (2017-18) -- Host for season 12
* ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (2020) -- Host and executive producer for season 29

!!Writing credits
* ''Literature/{{Modelland}}'' (2011)
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!! The following FIERCE tropes are associated with Ms. Tyra Banks.
* ArchEnemy: For a time, Creator/NaomiCampbell, although it wasn't so much hatred as fear on Tyra's part. They eventually resolved any issues they had between each other.
* {{As H|imself}}erself: On the ''Series/JustShootMe'' episodes "Nina Sees Red Pt.1" and "Nina Sees Red Pt. 2," and cameos in the films ''Film/MrWoodcock'', ''Film/TropicThunder'' and ''[[Series/HannahMontana Hannah Montana: The Movie]]''.
* TheEponymousShow: ''The Tyra Banks Show''.
%%* FashionShow: She's appeared in quite a few.
* GodivaHair: She's done this in a variety of photo shoots. The cover of the January 2000 issue of ''GQ'' had this, since she was only wearing bikini bottoms, and the cover read, "Tyra, Please Pull Your Hair Back!"
* LingerieScene: In fashion shows, and Season 2, Episode 45 of ''The Tyra Banks Show'' was titled "Panty Party".
* MadeForTVMovie: 2000's Creator/{{ABC}} fantasy/comedy ''Film/LifeSize'', where she played a fashion doll that had magically come to life.
* NippleAndDimed: Zig-zagged all over the place. Sometimes she will play it completely straight with HandOrObjectUnderwear or GodivaHair. Other times she'll go strutting down the runway [[VaporWear braless]] in see-through outfits.
* PrettyInMink: In a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, one of the outfits she modeled included a white fox wrap and a ShowgirlSkirt trimmed with white fox.
* RealWomenHaveCurves: Does she ever. She talked about usually being 20 lbs. heavier than the other models during her active career and that her curves got her noticed.
* RealityShow: ''America's Next Top Model''
* ShesBack: She's on the cover of the 2019 Swimsuit Issue at age 45.
* StartMyOwn: Two [[RealityShow reality shows]] (the other was the less-successful ''True Beauty'') and a philanthropic organization called TZONE.
* WalkingSwimsuitScene: Various photo shoots, particularly for ''Sports Illustrated''.
* VanityPlate: A bank vault, for her company Bankable Productions.
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