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 TYRA TALKS
Toned Thighs, Skinny Kneecaps And Sweet Success
Not only did TYRA BANKS break ground as the fi rst African-
American model to be featured on the covers of GQ, Sports
Illustrated and the Victoria’s Secret catalogue, she was the fi rst
female to ever appear on Instinct’s cover (“I feel great. I’m going down in
history!”). She’s acted—in gay men’s guilty pleasure movie Coyote Ugly,
no less—and even recorded a single. It was never released but it played on
America’s Next Top Model (the highest-rated episode to date, incidentally. “I
wanted to sing. I think everybody wants to sing. I can carry a note. But I’m
not Mariah Carey and I am no Whitney Houston.”). Now Tyra’s singing the
sweet song of success: America’s Next Top Model (which she exec produces
and hosts) starts its sixth season this spring as a certifi ed hit and she hosts a
syndicated talk show that boasts her name in its title. Is there anything this
actress-singer chat-talk catwalk diva can’t do?
How about leaving the house without putting on makeup?
TYRA BANKS: I used to do it all the time.
But now I have to put on some blush and some
concealer. People see me on TV every day. You do
not want to scare ’em too much. You don’t want to
look too different than what they’re used to!
How do you deal with being known as one of the
most beautiful people in the world ?
You know, I think that’s just such crap. I’ll be
walking in the mall and see a girl who looks
absolutely gorgeous and I’m like, “You’re not
famous, so they’re not calling her the most
beautiful woman in the world, but she could be.”
It’s just that whole fame thing and being a model,
so it brings those kinds of titles with it.
What does the word “supermodel” mean to you?
It means I will be ninety years old with a cane and
shaking from some sort of palsy and people will
still say, “There goes supermodel Tyra Banks!”
It’s something that will never go away.
Do you mind that?
I actually don’t. It would bother me if I was having
trouble with the talk show and Top Model or other
things because people were saying, “Oh, she’s only
a supermodel, she can’t do this or that.”
What other words would you like to hear
associated with your name?
Some words I like are pioneer, innovator, fearless.
What physical characteristic would you change
about yourself if you could?
[Laughs] I have a lot. I have an arch in my foot…
An arch in your foot? That’s your big complaint?
Oh, no! I’m just starting from the bottom up!
I have very fl at feet and I can’t wear heels for a
long period of time ’cause they hurt and my foot
doesn’t look too beautiful in a heel ’cause of this
arch. I would love more calf. I have very small
calves. It’s a black girl thing. I’d also like a bigger
kneecap. My kneecap is really skinny.
These sound like the most ridiculous things.
[Laughs] It’s true! They’re true!
Okay, what else? Any regular people problems?
I’d love a more toned thigh ’cause I have cellulite.
I would love a six-pack. But that only comes
with eating healthy and working out which I do
neither…but, I’m not fi nished. [Laughs] I would
like those—you know those lines at like the
hipbone? Those ones that go down either side of
your waist? Men have ’em too.
Yeah, gay gym bunnies try to have them.
[Laughs] I would love to have that, too, so that
when I’m wearing those low jeans, you know what
I’m saying? I’d love a smaller chest but I would
never do surgery to make that happen.
I can’t imagine there is anything else…
Oh, yeah, we got time, right? A more toned arm.
Oh, and I have glands in my neck that kind of
stick out a little underneath my chin.
I’m going to make sure we’re all paying very
close attention to your neck when we watch
either of your shows!
I want you to watch my neck glands [laughs]!
It looks like I have a cold constantly! And my
eyebrows are too far apart. I’d love to have more
hair so that they’re closer in. When I smile I wish
52 | INSTINCT FEBRUARY 06
my top lip was bigger like Julia Roberts. Like now,
when I smile? It disappears.
Well, what do you like best about your features?
My neck—below the glands—the length of it.
Collar bone, my shoulders. My forehead.
Your forehead? My fi ve-head is my nemesis!
[Laughs] Look, it was something I was made
fun of for my whole life and then it was what I
was known for [in modeling]. And it was a good
thing. It gave me self-esteem.
Now the model known for her forehead has
a hit talk show and Top Model is a cultural
phenomenon. Did you expect such a success?
[The talk show] didn’t start doing well. It started
slow, but it’s growing—which I feel really good
about. I knew Top Model would be successful but
I didn’t think it would have such a cult following. I
didn’t think it would be putting UPN on the map.
I didn’t think people would be having Top Model
parties. But I did know it would be successful.
Can you divulge any dirt on the new spring
season of America’s Next Top Model?
It’s gonna be fi ercer than ever! It’s a word I
overuse on my talk show, but it’s true!
What about a Gay Top Model? You want to talk
fi erce: pit thirteen gay men against each other!
That could be drama…and that could be
hilarious actually! You know what? I’m going to
do that on my talk show and I’ll say I heard it
from Instinct fi rst!
What sets your talk show apart from others?
I think the thing about our show is I hope it’s like
a guide to life. That you can turn on that TV and
it can help you with day-to-day life. Sometimes
it’s about having fun and doing America’s Next
Top Drag Queen Transsexual or whatever and
sometimes it’s about digging deeper.
Why did you decide to do this take on Top
Model on your talk show?
I love drag queens and transsexuals and I have
ever since I started modeling. I’ve been mistaken
for a drag queen a couple of times. And I would
say no, “It’s just me. I’m real. I’m a girl.”
So now you’re exposing drag queens and
transsexuals to all of America.
Exactly. We did the heavy side about their
struggles on my show and I thought, “Now
let’s just have fun!” I feel like the transgendered
community is so misunderstood and there’s a lot
of fear. I think some people just get confused and
it’s hard for them to understand and they retreat
into this whole fear thing. I just want to show
that transgendered people have emotions and
feelings like everyone else.
And we’ve got a photo spread of your show’s
winner following this interview.
I know. It’s great. A lot of them are way more
beautiful than women. Especially our winner,
Claudia. Oh my God, she’s gorgeous!
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Instinct Online 
written by KM on October 23, 2007
I love Tyra!
written by sarquasha on January 05, 2008
I'm a huge fan of tyra i love watching America's next top model