38 Quotes & Sayings By Tyra Banks

Never dull your shine for somebody else. Tyra Banks

I love the confidence that makeup gives me. Tyra Banks

There is a difference between desire and desperation. Tyra Banks

A smart model is a good model. Tyra Banks

I've helped some of my classmates on how to strategize to get to the next level of their businesses. And it's interesting, because here I am sitting there from the entertainment industry and the fashion industry, and I'm giving a billionaire that has a business that's been in his family for 300 years - I'm giving him advice about strategy! Tyra Banks

There's always going to be dreams and goals I have, but I never really tell people what they are. Tyra Banks

'Modelland' has always been a part of my mind and my heart. I'm excited that you'll be able to read about this magical world that's been living in my dreams for so many years. Tyra Banks

I've made mistakes before of doing different projects just based on my dreams, my hopes, my thing, and not really thinking about my customers. Tyra Banks

I don't go to the cool, trendy restaurants. I go to either the holes in the wall or the super-fancy restaurants where there are no cool people. Tyra Banks

I made my living being 20 or 30 pounds heavier than the average model. And that's where I got famous. Tyra Banks

A while ago I said that, 'You know, I like a guy - he doesn't have to be all rich and famous - he can be normal.' And I remember I was walking in the mall, and this guy was like, 'Tyra, I'm normal. I live with my mama. I ain't got a car and I ain't got a job! I'm real normal.' And I'm like, 'That's not normal - that's a loser! ' Tyra Banks

Even when I was a teen model, I didn't think it was fair that I had to enter the acting world to get insurance. Tyra Banks

I would not recommend a teen getting into modeling if they're not solid when it comes to their grades and school. That comes first. My mother always told me that came first. Tyra Banks

I created 'America's Next Top Model' one-hundred percent. I was in my kitchen making tea one morning, and I looked out the window, and the idea popped into my head. I wanted it to be 'American Idol' meets 'Ford Supermodel of the Year' meets 'The Real World.' Tyra Banks

I am learning how to delegate and how to empower people. Tyra Banks

Global warming will threaten our crops, so natural food will be scarce. Hourglass, curvy bodies will be the aspirational beauty standard, representing that those women have access to bounties of fulfilling yet healthy food, which means they are affluent. Tyra Banks

I love food and feel that it is something that should be enjoyed. I eat whatever I want. I just don't overeat. Tyra Banks

I love all kinds of bread. Whenever I crave junk food, I want salty things like peanuts or potato chips. Tyra Banks

Don't contour with blush - that's so eighties. It was an amazing trend then, but it's not hot now. Instead, go for a neutral contour color that's one or two shades deeper than your skin tone. Tyra Banks

My most difficult class at Harvard Business School would have to be finance. Tyra Banks

My mom was a medical photographer, but on the side, she did a before-and-after glam photography business in the house. She would do makeup and hair - and I was her assistant. Tyra Banks

Stop saying these negative things about yourself. Look in the mirror and find something about yourself that's positive and celebrate that! Tyra Banks

I've been singing for six years. I've been in and out of the studios with top producers, but it wasn't something I was ready to express to the public or to the press. I wasn't ready to come out. I wanted to perfect my voice and be 100 percent positive that I could come out right. Tyra Banks

I don't want to use the term 'plus-size, ' because, to me, what the hell is that? It just doesn't have a positive connotation to it. I tend to not use it. Tyra Banks

Designers are very fickle. I never wanted to be a victim of that. You're in one minute, out the next. Tyra Banks

We are often told we can't have brains and beauty, and I really hope that my message is that you can put on that red lip and curl your hair and put on that power dress - you don't have to sacrifice one for the other. Tyra Banks

Paris is one of the most beautiful places in all the world. Unfortunately, I was so homesick I couldn't appreciate its beauty. Tyra Banks

Because beauty will be so readily accessible, and skin color and features will be similar, prejudices based on physical features will be nearly eradicated. Prejudice will be socioeconomically based. Tyra Banks

When I was a young girl, I lost a lot of weight over one summer - involuntarily - and was just really depressed and sad. There was nothing I could do to gain weight. I would look in the mirror and call myself disgusting every day. Tyra Banks

One thing my mom used to tell me was to look to the other side, and know that my present is not going to be everything. So if I'm having a bad day, she goes, 'Just imagine tomorrow. This is going to be over. This is going to be done with.' Tyra Banks

When modeling agencies were saying that I was too big and gaining weight, my mom said, 'OK, we're going to discuss what they're saying over pizza, and we're going to plan the future of your career which doesn't involve you having to be skinny.' Tyra Banks

I'm frugal. I've always been this way. When I was young, my mom would give me my allowance, and I'd peel off a little each week and have some to spare. Tyra Banks

My mom never taught me to be waiting for some prince on a white horse to swipe me off my feet. Tyra Banks

On 'America's Top Model, ' I've always told my girls to smile with their eyes. We call it 'smizing.' Over the years, it's actually become part of pop culture. I would be walking down the street, and girls would say, 'Smize! ' Tyra Banks

Smiles come naturally to me, but I started thinking of them as an art form at my command. I studied all the time. I looked at magazines, I'd practice in front of the mirror and I'd ask photographers about the best angles. I can now pull out a smile at will. Tyra Banks