Posted February 7, 2008 -- TYRA BANKS has managed to take the television world by storm, thanks to her determination to create inspirational forums for younger women.
Banks first made her mark as creator and executive producer of the successful America’s Next Top Model and then launched her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, which is now in its third season and draws more than 2 million viewers a week among women 18 to 34. Banks has sold the Daytime Emmy-nominated talk show to TV stations in 190 markets, and owns a hefty stake in it through her production company, Bankable Productions. It is a viewer-friendly mix of celebrity and real life, and delivers huge ratings in top markets, such as New York, Los Angeles and Boston.
The former supermodel – who during her modeling career could rake in $50,000 a day and had a lingerie contract worth $4 million a year — has the Midas touch and enough girl-next-door appeal to succeed in the tough television business. For taking a risk, empowering young women, and putting her stamp on the media industry – and for going from supermodel to role model in one swoop – Tyra Banks has garnered the 2008 “BET HONORS” Media award.