Tyra Banks On Her Idol, Favourite Fashion Moment and Launching Her Business In The Middle East

The entrepreneur and TV personality speaks to Bazaar Arabia exclusively on her latest venture in the region here…

In fear of sounding far too cliché, it seems as though 2023 is starting on a spectacular course with remarkable public figures heading over to the evergrowing cosmopolitan that is Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Among those who have flocked to the dubbed ‘City of Gold’ is the famed American TV personality, model, producer, writer, and actress.

Although those around the globe recognise the celebutante as being both the host and executive producer of the cult-classic American reality TV show America’s Next Top Model, in addition to establishing her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show (2005-2010) — Tyra has spent the majority of her professional life breaking boundaries and honing in on becoming the ultimate business woman of the 21st century.

Now, Tyra is searching for a change of pace or, instead, a brand new exciting business venture by entering the food and beverage industry with the founding of SMiZE and Dream, where entertainment and ice cream meet on a global scale.

Here, Bazaar Arabia’s Deputy Editor Jessica Michault and Social Media Editor Anahita Ghai speak to Tyra Banks about success, style, and her future entrepreneurial endeavours…

Jessica Michault [JM]: You have ventured into many areas since your days as a supermodel… but ice cream still feels like quite a departure. There is already a lot of competition in the ice cream space, so what made you feel like this was the right direction to go in now, and what do you think you are adding to the conversation?

Tyra Banks [TB]: I have this passion. It’s a family passion. My mom is obsessed. I live with my mom and she has ice cream parties every night with my son and they do it secretly when I’m like “we can’t have it every night,”

I was inspired by Cracker Jack’s that has a prize inside, as a kid, you want that prize so bad you’re fighting with your family, cousins, whatever, you want that prize and so I knew I wanted the brand to be more about that than just ice cream. I’m a fan of super premium ice cream, so I wanted that. I wasn’t interested in launching with keto or anything like that. I felt like that would be brand extensions, of course, I’m going to go with traditional with quality. But our differentiator was that we’re going to have a prize inside and really focus on the child within you.

[JM]: You have done so many different things in your career, modelling, acting, singing, you’re an author, a producer. Can you talk a bit about how you decide where to focus your energy?

[TB]: It’s interesting. One thing I don’t like is when I get introduced with a whole line of different things, because, just because you’ve done it doesn’t mean that you deserve to be called that. I’ve written books but that doesn’t mean that I’m necessarily an author. I’ve acted but that doesn’t mean I’m an actor and I feel like it’s a little insulting to Nicole Kidman or Viola Davis or true actors. If an actor does a couple of campaigns for a designer it doesn’t mean they are a model. And so I’m the multi-hyphenate, I’m okay with some of them but not all of them.

Where I put my energy now is in what makes me the most happy which is business and right now, the business, a lot of it is, I’m in my pyjamas on a Zoom call in bed. There is something that I get a pleasure from, serotonin for me, when I’m working on my business, it’s everything for me as a businesswoman and I don’t do a good job of showing the world a lot of what I do because I love privacy so much. I’m not the person that’s going to always say, “Look at me, Look at me,” with the behind-the-scenes. I like to get it done and then present something great.

I also know the generation today, they don’t want to see the just the finished product they want to see the process where I talk about the bumps and the bruises and I need to do a better job of showing that.

[JM]: Why did you feel that the UAE and teaming up with Brunch and Cake was the right step for your business?

[TB]: For a couple of reasons, we have some close friends and family that spent summers with us. So, we’ve been spending time with them coming here. Additionally, my life partner who is also the CFO of the company has done a lot of business in the region in the past so naturally, he has business connections here. Then we were connected to Sara from Maven in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Investment Office she was like, “When you guys are spending some time here, why don’t you come and join this initiative that I’m doing to bring people of colour, women-led businesses from the States here?” So I talked to her and started working with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. They gave us this coming out party this last year and now we’re out — out and about.

I’m obsessed with trying new restaurants, so when visiting the UAE last year, Brunch & Cake kept popping up in my searches. So many articles said it had some of the most beautiful locations with food that was gorgeous to the eye (some of the most Instagrammed in the region) and super tasty, too. My family and I had an amazing time grubbing on so many dishes and taking in the jaw-dropping, stunning environment. Plus, the staff was so kind to my mom…showing so much respect to her as the matriarch of our family. So when I decided to bring SMiZE & DREAM to the UAE, I easily chose Brunch & Cake. I mean, they celebrate Grandmas, too! What you see today is just the tip of the iceberg. Keep an eye out for more coming your way as we reveal our plans to fast-track SMiZE & DREAM’s global expansion, starting first with the UAE!

Anahita Ghai [AG]: I would love to play a quick rapid fire game with you. What is your favourite motto?

Tyra Banks [TB]: Dig baby, dig.

[AG]: Your favourite fashion show you ever walked?

[TB]: I used to love Todd Oldham because we could act crazy, no rules.

[AG]: Your most memorable fashion moment?

[TB]: Harper’s Bazaar, Paolo Roversi black and white. That camera you put that black thing over your head and take one at a time — amazing!

[AG]: Your favourite flavour of ice cream?

[TB]: Butter Pecan, But Betta.

[AG]: What trend will you never follow?

[TB]: Low-rise jeans.

[AG]: What is your most cherished piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

[TB]: An Azzedine Alaïa big, thick, Kelly dark green sweater that he gave me thirty years ago.

[AG]: Who would you love to have dinner with?

[TB]: I would love to have dinner with Oprah Winfrey.

[AG]: Who is your idol?

[TB]: Richard Branson because he is a crazy, crazy businessman!

[AG]: What is your next big adventure?

[TB]: My next big adventure has a cape on my back as I fly to all of the Emirates, we’ve done Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, what’s next? Sharjah?

Lead Image Courtesy/Getty

Written by Hermione Edwards