In the latest 12th issue of Numéro Netherlands, the legendary Tyra Banks graces the cover with a fire that’s as bold as ever. Supermodel, television trailblazer, and visionary entrepreneur, Tyra continues to redefine not only what beauty means but how far it can take you. In this exclusive feature, she opens up about her most meaningful milestones, the challenges behind her advocacy, and the driving force behind her global ice cream brand, SMiZE & DREAM.
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Reflecting on her history-making career, Tyra pinpoints her cover appearances on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and the Victoria’s Secret catalogue as the moments that “cracked something open.” These iconic firsts weren’t just personal wins—they were revolutionary. “Little girls who didn’t see themselves in those spaces suddenly started to,” she shared. And though these achievements are etched in history, Tyra says she’s not dwelling in the past: “I’m the curator of that museum. I’m still adding to the exhibit.”
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When America’s Next Top Model aired, it changed the way the world viewed modeling. “ANTM was a disruptor,” Tyra declares. The show pushed boundaries, challenged norms, and democratized beauty. But Tyra is clear-eyed about its impact: while it opened doors, the world must keep evolving. For her, ANTM wasn’t just about modeling—it was about storytelling, transformation, and redefining beauty standards long before diversity became mainstream.
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Tyra opens up about the resistance she faced while pushing for representation, sharing a heated confrontation with a network executive who initially rejected casting a Latina model on ANTM. “I made my case, passionately,” she recalls. “He didn’t approve the girl I was pushing for, but he said, ‘Go find someone else.’” Tyra took that opportunity and ran with it, determined to shift the standard of beauty on-screen—even when the fight wasn’t hers alone.
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Now, at 51 and re-entering modeling, she feels the difference: “I don’t need permission. I don’t need to convince the room.”
What began as a modeling tip—“smile with your eyes”—has become a philosophy and a brand ethos. SMiZE & DREAM isn’t just a dessert line; it’s a mission. Tyra infuses meaning into every pint of ice cream, hiding a “SMiZE SURPRiZE” truffle at the bottom to represent life’s sweet rewards after perseverance. “It’s a metaphor,” she says. “You show up, you work hard, you fall, you rise, and then one day—success, sweetness.”
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Even the brand name carries purpose: the SMiZE is fun and fierce; the DREAM is about hope and possibility.
Tyra’s drive to succeed stems from a deep, relentless curiosity. While modeling, she asked questions behind the scenes—about lighting, contracts, and marketing—laying the foundation for her future as a mogul. “We don’t have to live in a single lane,” she insists. “We can be model and mogul. Teacher and student. Dessert lover and disruptor.”
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Her mantra to students at Stanford, “Different is better than better,” became a guiding principle for SMiZE & DREAM and for her evolution beyond the runway.
For Tyra, success used to mean applause, covers, and validation. Now, it’s about impact and legacy. “Success is building something that helps people feel seen, inspired, or even just joyful.”
She also talks candidly about fear—particularly the fear she faced walking away from modeling at the height of her career. “I was scared, but I was more excited than afraid,” she admits. Saying no to offers that didn’t align with her soul was risky, but ultimately freeing. “That was a power move.”
In today’s fast-paced culture, Tyra doesn’t chase trends—she chases truth. Her secret? Listening. She surrounds herself with mentors, young visionaries, and voices that challenge her to pivot when necessary. “You don’t stay ahead by sprinting,” she says. “You stay ahead by pausing, getting still, and then moving with intention.”
Click here to read the full interview
TEAM
Talent: @tyrabanks
Photography: @tylerpatrickkenny
Stylist: @wilfordlenov
Hair: @kimblehaircare
Makeup: @ernestocasillas
Styling Assistant: @gethsemaniamabilia
Videographer: @meech213
Videography Assistant: @francoisjoseph_
Social BTS Videographer: @youngvision
Producer: @iamsocialadam
Production Set Assistants: @krystalanaisamayanavarro @manyshiningfathers
Location: @hubblestudio @hubbleagency
Special thanks: @vincericci
Editor:@timiletonja
Interview: @janaletonja
Cover Design: @arthurroeloffzen
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