Okay pop culture lovers let's talk about Tyra Banks . This icon is seriously having a moment and she is popping up everywhere. From turning heads at Paris Fashion Week to dropping truth bombs about America's Next Top Model and even joining the Hollywood Squares Reboot Tyra is keeping us all on our toes. Ready to dive into all things Tyra? Let's get to it!
Tyra Banks Turns Heads at Paris Fashion Week: Sleek Look Bleached Brows and Fan Reactions
Paris Fashion Week is always a spectacle and Tyra Banks definitely brought the drama. She showed up at the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2025 show looking totally different and the internet went wild . We are talking bleached eyebrows super smooth skin and a seriously chic all-black Balenciaga outfit.
Tyra rocked a padded black jacket a form-fitting dress oval sunglasses and her dark hair in a tight bun. She posted pics on Instagram saying "@Balenciaga called. I answered." And answer she did! The look is very high fashion very avant-garde and very… Tyra.
But of course the internet had opinions. Some fans were living for it calling her "MOTHER IS BACK" and saying "OH SHE IS SO BACK!!!!" They loved her thinner figure and those signature model poses. But others were a little less convinced. Some weren't feeling the dark hair or thought her skin looked "too tight" . One user even joked "She look like AI" while another said "Botched.. I’d be asking for a refund." Ouch! Some speculated it was face tape or just too much work done. And of course there were comments about her "cheap looking wig" and whether she was trying to look "white". People online never hold back do they?
Love it or hate it Tyra definitely got everyone talking. It's classic Tyra bold fearless and always making a statement.
It is worth noting this glam PFW appearance is a far cry from Tyra being spotted earlier this month casually enjoying a cheeseburger in a McDonald's parking lot in Sydney Australia. Talk about range!
"I Said Some Dumb S---" Tyra Banks Defends ANTM Legacy and Addresses Controversy with Honesty
Tyra recently received the Luminary Award at the 2025 Essence Black Women in Hollywood ceremony and she used her speech to talk about her iconic show America's Next Top Model (ANTM) . She took a stand for ANTM's legacy especially regarding diversity but she also didn't shy away from acknowledging the show's problematic moments.
Tyra told the audience that people have "no idea how hard we fought to bring the diversity to that television show at a time where it didn't exist to show different beauties". She talked about fighting against industry people who questioned casting "girls from the hood". Tyra's point was to show that beauty comes in all forms not just the typical industry standards.
She admitted "We fought and we struggled but we made it happen" and then with classic Tyra honesty she added "Did we get it right? Hell no! I said some dumb s---." She is owning up to the cringier moments of ANTM while still defending its overall impact. She wants her legacy to be about "changing the world" over some internet clips taken out of context.
ANTM ran for 24 cycles and became a cultural phenomenon. But in recent years it has faced criticism online for moments that haven't aged well especially regarding race and body image. Remember those makeovers and some of the questionable challenges? Yeah those.
Specifically Tyra addressed the blackface controversy from cycle 13 where models were made up to resemble different races. One contestant Jennifer An claimed she felt like she was put in blackface. Tyra's team denied it saying the intention was to celebrate underrepresented beauty ideals not to do blackface and that it was meant to challenge narrow beauty standards. Tyra herself apologized to anyone offended saying her intention was "to spread beauty and break down barriers" not to degrade any race.
It's a complex legacy ANTM. It definitely pushed boundaries in terms of diversity on TV and gave many models their start but it also had moments that are hard to defend now. Tyra acknowledging both sides is a pretty powerful move.
Center Square Star! Tyra Banks Joins the Celebrity Lineup for Hollywood Squares Reboot
From high fashion to reality TV history Tyra is now also diving into classic game shows. She is the center square on the rebooted Hollywood Squares on CBS. Yep Tyra is bringing her star power to this iconic game show.
Hollywood Squares is back with a new host Nate Burleson and Tyra holding it down in the middle square. The show is a tic-tac-toe game where contestants rely on celebrities for answers to trivia questions. It's all about comedy and pop culture fun.
Tyra is in good company on Hollywood Squares. Check out some of the other celebs joining her for this season:
- Drew Barrymore
- Thomas Lennon
- Tiffany Haddish
- Whitney Cummings
- Leslie Jones
- RuPaul
- Margaret Cho
- And many more!
With Tyra in the center square you know there will be some serious smizing and maybe a few surprise moments. Hollywood Squares is back and Tyra is ready to play!
Tyra Banks: From Supermodel to Media Mogul Still Making Moves in 2025
So what's the takeaway? Tyra Banks is still a force to be reckoned with. She is not afraid to take risks whether it's with her fashion choices her TV shows or her business ventures like Smize & Dream ice cream. She owns her past acknowledges the good and the bad and keeps moving forward. From Paris runways to heartfelt speeches and fun game show gigs Tyra Banks continues to be a fascinating and influential figure in pop culture. And something tells us she is just getting started.
Tyra Banks: Must-Know Moments in 2025
- Paris Fashion Week Appearance: Turned heads at the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2025 show with a striking and discussed look.
- Essence Black Women in Hollywood - Luminary Award: Honored and delivered a powerful speech defending ANTM's diversity while acknowledging controversial moments.
- Hollywood Squares Reboot - Center Square: Joined the revival of the classic game show as the coveted center square celebrity.
- Smize & Dream Business Expansion: Continued to grow her ice cream chain Smize & Dream with locations expanding beyond Los Angeles.
- Addressed House Fire Loss: Shared publicly about losing her house in the Palisades fires earlier in the year with vulnerability and grace.