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When Tyra Banks has a dream, it doesn’t stay unrealised
for long. If we’ve learnt anything over seven addictive
series of ANTM it’s that Ms Banks has every right to her
‘fierce!’ catchphrase.
After a successful career as a ground breaking international
fashion icon (pretty fierce for starters), Tyra moved
into acting and writing, delivering a number of well received
TV and film parts and a top-selling health and beauty
book.
As if that wasn’t enough, Tyra’s drive and ambition took
her into TV production, where she established her own
company, Bankable Productions, in 2003. She then became
the creator, executive producer and presenter of AMTM.
From a fledgling first series, run on a tiny budget with
a handful of fashion friends, she developed the show into
the hugely influential hit that today attracts vast audiences
across the globe.
As Tyra’s success has grown so has her vision of helping
others to achieve their dreams – often creating fabulous
entertainment for the rest of us in the process.
Tyra describes the passion behind both ANTM and her own
talk show “The Tyra Banks Show” (now entering its second
series) as being driven by the desire to create change.
“We should encourage people, discover new talent and creativity,
and give people a chance to realise their full potential,”
she says.
As well as her many professional achievements, such as
being the first African American woman to grace the covers
of GQ and Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, Tyra has
launched several key personal projects. She founded the
Tyra Banks Scholarship in 1992 to fund education grants
for African American girls, and created T-Zone in July
2000, an annual summer camp experience for teenage girls,
designed to encourage independence and self esteem. Fierce
achievements, indeed.
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