VetFamily: Tyra Banks
Caption: Tyra Banks, showcasing her new ice cream brand (Source: SMiZE & DREAM press release photo)
Many know supermodel and television host Tyra Banks for her beauty, charm, and style, but few are aware she is part of a military family. Banks' brother, Devin, served in the Air Force for more than 15 years and now works on Capitol Hill. Banks is said to consider the military a "personal family thing" and visited her older brother in Okinawa when he served. When he was a 1st Lieutenant and working as a contracting officer stationed at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C, the siblings visited patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center together.
Banks made her modeling comeback earlier this week walking in the Victoria Secret Fashion Show on October 15 in NYC. The 50-year old modeled in her 10th runway event with the brand, and her first since she retired from modeling in 2005. She was a Victoria Secret Angel from 1997-2005.
“It feels crazy being back on the Victoria’s Secret runway," she said on social media. "I mean ‘cray cray,’ as in ‘cray cray good.' I never thought that I would be back on this runway, to be honest.”
Standing at 5’10”, Banks started her modeling career at the age of 15 and was the first Black American woman to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, on which she appeared three times. During her modeling tenure, she walked in fashion shows for many major designers, including Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Anna Sui, Christian Dior, Donna Karan, and Calvin Klein. She has also appeared in several music videos, movies, and television shows.
After her successful run as a supermodel, Tyra launched and hosted the television modeling competition show America's Next Top Model, which lasted 24 seasons. Tyra became a two-time Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show host while hosting The Tyra Banks Show from 2005 to 2010. In 2017, she went on to host America's Got Talent for two seasons and took over hosting duties on Dancing With the Stars from 2020-2023, where she also acted as executive producer.
Tyra Banks (second from left) and her brother, Air Force 1st Lt. Devin Banks (left), visit with Army Pfc. Joseph Kashnow (right), a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Dec. 19, 2003. (Department of Defense photo)
Tyra and Devin appeared together on Oprah back in 2000 where they spoke about their sibling rivalry. She told stories of him pretending to be injured to make her concerned or stealing her food. She shared an argument that had occurred in Okinawa in their 20s that led to their reconciliation.
“I had been in the service for so many years. When I left, she was a child. It was kind of like I was in a state of suspension, a time warp, so I didn’t see her as an adult. The next time I saw her was four years later. That day I realized Tyra is a self-sufficient woman and I can’t do this anymore,” Devin admitted to Oprah.
Banks has an eight year-old son, York Banks Asla. Leading up to her recent comeback, she posted: “You are…Never too young to SMiZE. Never too old to DREAM.” Her latest venture, SMiZE & DREAM is an ice cream shop in Washington, D.C.
