March 3rd 2025.
As the host of the popular model competition show, America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks may have seemed flawless on screen, but she's the first to admit that she didn't always get it right. During her acceptance speech for the Luminary Spotlight Award at Essence Black Women in Hollywood, Banks reflected on her 30-plus years as a supermodel and entrepreneur, including her time as the face of the iconic show.
Despite its success, Banks acknowledged that the show wasn't perfect. "Did we get it right? Hell, no. I said some dumb sh*t," she admitted, referencing some of her past remarks. But for Banks, her legacy is about so much more than a few controversial comments that have been linked together on the internet. Instead, she wants to be remembered for the impact that America's Next Top Model had on the fashion and modeling world.
Banks made sure to highlight the show's legacy of diversity and inclusion, which was groundbreaking at the time. "You guys have no idea how hard we fought to bring diversity to that television show when it didn't even exist," she shared. "We were showing different beauties at a time when the world was skeptical. People in the fashion industry were even questioning why we were casting girls from the hood. But we fought and we struggled and we made it happen."
Premiering in 2003 and running for 24 seasons until 2018, America's Next Top Model has become a cultural phenomenon and is still available for streaming on popular platforms like Netflix and Hulu. The show has helped launch the careers of numerous models and actresses, including Eva Marcille, Yaya DaCosta, and Tocarra Jones.
Banks is proud of the opportunities that the show has provided for models from diverse backgrounds and she's thrilled to see others following in her footsteps. "I am so excited that I, and so many of us, have opened that door for others to follow," she said in her speech. And as she continues to pave the way for inclusivity in the industry, Banks is grateful to have the support of her peers. "Now, my 51-year-old, dimpled, cellulite-covered bigger tummy and 10 million times bigger t*tt*es is walking through that door that I opened, with all of us behind us on that runway saying, 'Baby, it's just the beginning,'" she shared.
In addition to her successful modeling and hosting career, Banks is also known for her entrepreneurial ventures, including her latest project, Smize and Dream Ice Cream. Recently, Vice President Kamala Harris even stopped by her pop-up shop to enjoy a scoop of her delicious ice cream. With so much accomplished and still more to come, Banks is truly an inspiration and a trailblazer in the world of fashion and beyond.
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