Tyra Banks is an actress, author, television personality, supermodel, and founder of TZONE. In the fashion industry, Banks is known for her extensive list of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153firsts.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Over the course of her distinguished modeling career, successfully transitioning from high-fashion to commercial, she became the first African-American woman to grace the covers of GQ and the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. At the height of her success with global supermodel status, Banks made the decision to leave the modeling world and pursue ventures in media and entertainment. In 2003, Banks established Bankable, the parent company to the Digital, Studios, and Books divisions, creating a multi-faceted company where beauty meets entertainment. She became a pioneer in reality TV as the creator, executive producer, and host of America\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Next Top Model which is viewed in over 170 markets, with 20 international editions. In 2005, Banks became the first woman seen simultaneously on primetime and daytime with the launch of her own talk show, as host and executive producer of the Emmy-winning, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Tyra Show.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Banks is also the co-executive producer of ABC\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s primetime reality series \u00e2\u20ac\u0153True Beauty.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d In 2011, Banks announced an exclusive partnership with Demand Media to launch a highly-interactive, beauty-and fashion-focused online platform. She also released her first fiction novel in 2011 titled ModelLand, a fantasy trilogy published by Delacorte Press of Random House, which hit the New York Times bestseller list. Through all her endeavors, Banks remains committed to her personal mission to empower women and expand the definition of beauty.<\/p>\n