5 Shocking Ways Tyra Banks Is Redefining Her Legacy In 2024: From Runway Return To Ice Cream Empire
Tyra Banks, the iconic supermodel, television mogul, and entrepreneur, had an explosive year in 2024, marking a dramatic return to the spotlight and doubling down on her latest business ventures. From a shocking, triumphant return to one of the world's most famous runways to candidly reflecting on her controversial reality TV past, Banks proved that her ability to "smize" extends far beyond the camera lens. As of December 2025, her activities over the past year demonstrate a powerful pivot from television hosting back to her roots in fashion and her future in food entrepreneurship, solidifying her status as a true business titan.
This deep dive explores the five most significant and surprising moves Tyra Banks made throughout 2024, revealing how the 50-year-old powerhouse is not just maintaining her legacy but actively redefining it for a new generation. Her career trajectory—from the first Black woman on the covers of *Sports Illustrated Swimsuit* and *GQ* to a Harvard Business School graduate—continues to inspire and surprise fans of the *America's Next Top Model* creator.
Tyra Banks: Complete Biographical Profile
Before diving into her latest groundbreaking moves, here is a quick look at the life and career highlights of the multifaceted icon, Tyra Banks.
- Full Name: Tyra Lynne Banks
- Date of Birth: December 4, 1973
- Age (as of 2024): 51
- Hometown: Inglewood, California, U.S.
- Parents: Carolyn London (Mother, medical photographer) and Donald Banks (Father, computer consultant)
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Child: York Banks Asla (Son, born via surrogate with former partner Erik Asla)
- Key Career Highlights: First African-American woman on the cover of *Sports Illustrated Swimsuit* (1996) and *GQ* magazine (1996), creator and host of *America's Next Top Model* (2003–2015, 2017–2018), host of *The Tyra Banks Show* (2005–2010), host of *Dancing with the Stars* (2020–2022).
- Business Ventures: Bankable Productions, Smize & Dream (Ice Cream Company).
1. The Shocking Victoria's Secret Runway Comeback After 20 Years
The biggest headline for Tyra Banks in 2024 was undoubtedly her unexpected and triumphant return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway. After a nearly two-decade hiatus from the iconic show, Banks, who turned 51 in December 2024, walked the runway to the roar of the crowd.
The return was a powerful moment of nostalgia and a statement about Banks' enduring relevance in the fashion world. She was one of the original Victoria's Secret Angels and her last appearance was nearly 20 years ago. Banks even closed the 2024 show, solidifying her legendary status and demonstrating her commitment to the brand's revamped, more inclusive format. In interviews following the event, Banks mentioned that walking the show again felt "different" but was a fulfilling experience.
This comeback generated significant buzz, not just for the spectacle but for the message it sent: that supermodels of her stature can—and should—return to the catwalk on their own terms, proving that age is truly just a number in the modeling world.
2. Going All-In on the Smize & Dream Ice Cream Empire
While her runway return captured the public's imagination, Banks' primary focus throughout 2024 remained squarely on her entrepreneurial venture: the ice cream company, Smize & Dream. This business, which she has repeatedly called her "obsession," has seen significant expansion.
The year was marked by a major push to expand the brand's physical footprint. Banks was actively involved in opening new flagship stores, including a particularly sweet moment where she surprised her mother, Carolyn, with a new flagship location. The Smize & Dream venture is a key part of Banks' identity as a "Boss Lady," blending her public persona with a genuine passion for the product. This pivot from the television industry and entertainment world to the food and beverage industry highlights her diverse business acumen.
This aggressive expansion plan in 2024 confirms that Banks is not just lending her name to a product; she is fully committed to building a lasting, multi-million dollar food empire, making her a serious player in the consumer goods space. The brand is built around the concept of "smizing," or smiling with your eyes, a term she popularized during her *America's Next Top Model* days, ensuring a strong tie-in to her personal brand.
3. A Secret Sydney Residency and Global Lifestyle
A surprising revelation in 2024 was the news that Tyra Banks had been secretly living in Sydney, Australia, for over a year. This global move was directly tied to the expansion of her Smize & Dream business. While she has maintained a high profile in the US with appearances like the Victoria's Secret show and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit launch party, her home base has been the laid-back Australian city.
Her residency in Sydney demonstrates the global scope of her entrepreneurial ambition and her willingness to relocate to personally oversee new markets and business development. Living abroad while maintaining a significant presence in the US media landscape shows her incredible skill at managing a powerful, international personal brand.
This shift in location is a major departure from her previous career, which was heavily centered in Los Angeles and New York for her television and production work with Bankable Productions, the company behind *The Tyra Banks Show* and *America's Next Top Model*.
4. Candid Reflections on Her America's Next Top Model Past
In 2024, Tyra Banks continued to address the legacy of her most famous creation, *America's Next Top Model* (ANTM), with a more candid and self-aware perspective. The show, which ran for over 20 cycles, has faced renewed scrutiny in recent years regarding some of the challenges and comments made by the judges.
In interviews, Banks admitted that she "said some dumb s---" on the show, acknowledging the sometimes controversial nature of the program's early years. This public reflection is a significant move for the star, showing a willingness to engage with criticism and evolve her public image. Despite the controversies, Banks also expressed pride in the show's achievements, particularly in changing the world of modeling by promoting cast diversity and giving opportunities to aspiring models from different backgrounds.
Her willingness to discuss the "dark side of reality TV" and her role in it adds a layer of complexity to her legacy, moving beyond the high-energy persona of the ANTM host to that of a mature media executive reflecting on a decades-long career. This open dialogue helps to contextualize the show's impact and her growth as a producer and personality.
5. Embracing the Milestone of Turning 50 with New Projects
Tyra Banks celebrated her 50th birthday in December 2023, and the milestone served as a launchpad for her high-profile activities in 2024. Throughout the year, she openly discussed the experience of turning 50, praising the women who helped her embrace the new decade.
Her appearance at the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit launch party in New York City further cemented her connection to the brand that first gave her a major platform decades ago. This presence at major industry events, coupled with her surprise Victoria's Secret return, demonstrated that she is not slowing down but rather entering a new phase of her career that blends her iconic modeling past with her current business-focused future.
While Banks has stepped away from hosting roles like *Dancing with the Stars*, her entrepreneurial spirit remains stronger than ever. Her 2024 moves show a strategic shift away from the demanding schedule of weekly television hosting and toward the long-term, high-value growth of her own businesses, particularly Smize & Dream. Her continued presence in the fashion and media world, however, ensures that she remains one of the most visible and influential figures in global entertainment and entrepreneurship.
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