From Supermodel To Mogul: 7 Shocking Moves Tyra Banks Made To Redefine Her Empire In 2025

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The legendary supermodel, television titan, and savvy entrepreneur, Tyra Banks, has fully transitioned into a behind-the-scenes mogul in 2025, making a series of strategic and surprising moves that have redefined her career trajectory. This shift is less about stepping away from the spotlight and more about directing it toward her rapidly expanding business ventures, particularly her innovative food brand, which has taken her "down under" and off the major US television circuit. Her current focus is a masterclass in brand evolution, prioritizing the long-term growth of her empire over the demanding schedule of on-screen hosting, a decision that has sparked significant curiosity among fans and industry observers alike as of this current date in December 2025.

The year 2025 has cemented Tyra Banks’s status as a business powerhouse, or "Boss Lady," as she calls herself, with her entrepreneurial drive now eclipsing her television persona. From publicly addressing the complex legacy of *America's Next Top Model* to making a conscious choice to skip major runway returns, every recent decision points to a calculated strategy to build a self-sustaining, global brand. Below is a deep dive into the seven most significant and shocking moves Tyra Banks has made to solidify her entrepreneurial legacy.

Tyra Banks: Complete Biography and Career Profile

Tyra Lynne Banks, often known by her mononym BanX, is an American model, television personality, producer, writer, and actress celebrated for her trailblazing career and sharp business acumen. Her influence spans the fashion, television, and entrepreneurial worlds.

  • Full Name: Tyra Lynne Banks
  • Born: December 4, 1973, Inglewood, California
  • Age (as of 2025): 52
  • Nickname/Mononym: BanX
  • Career Milestones:
    • Began modeling at age 15.
    • First African American woman featured on the covers of *GQ* and the *Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue*.
    • One of the original and most recognizable Victoria's Secret Angels.
    • Creator, host, and executive producer of the reality competition show *America's Next Top Model* (*ANTM*) (2003–2015, 2017–2018).
    • Host of *The Tyra Banks Show* (2005–2010), winning two Daytime Emmy Awards.
    • Host of *Dancing with the Stars* (*DWTS*) (2020–2022).
  • Current Ventures (2025 Focus): Smize & Dream (ice cream company), SMiZE Productions (production company), and her entrepreneurial mentorship efforts.
  • Education: Attended Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program.

The Great TV Exit: Why Tyra Left *Dancing with the Stars* and Her New Production Focus

One of the most defining and shocking moves of Tyra Banks's recent career was her decision to step away from the high-profile hosting gig on *Dancing with the Stars* (*DWTS*). After three seasons of leading the ballroom competition, her departure was a clear signal that her priorities had fundamentally shifted.

Prioritizing Entrepreneurship Over the Ballroom

Tyra Banks explicitly stated that her exit from *DWTS* was to allow her to focus entirely on her business and entrepreneurship. This was not a soft exit; it was a firm declaration that the demanding schedule of a major network show was interfering with her ambitions to scale her empire. She expressed a desire to concentrate on producing more television content—but strictly "behind the scenes" through her company, SMiZE Productions (formerly Bankable Productions).

This move is a calculated power-play, transitioning from a hired on-screen talent to a full-fledged media mogul who owns the intellectual property and production value of future projects. It aligns perfectly with her long-term goal: to have Harvard Business School study her business ventures one day.

The Ice Cream Ambition: Smize & Dream Takes Center Stage

The core reason for her TV hiatus is the rapid expansion of her ice cream company, Smize & Dream. The brand, which features a signature "Smize" cookie dough core at the bottom of every cup, is more than just a dessert; it's an extension of her personal brand and a vehicle for her entrepreneurial vision. The company is named after her famous modeling term, "Smize," meaning "smiling with your eyes," tying her fashion legacy directly into her food venture.

In 2025, the brand made global headlines with its expansion into Australia. This explains the "down under" sighting of Banks and her low-key look, as she was actively promoting the brand's new concepts. The launch included a collaboration with Uber Eats, unveiled at the SXSW Sydney 2025 festival, where Banks discussed her strategies for brand-building and distribution. The launch also included a flagship store near Tumbalong Park, demonstrating a commitment to a physical international presence. She even surprised her mother with a new flagship store, a heartwarming detail that injects a personal narrative into the business expansion.

Further demonstrating her innovative approach, Banks introduced a viral concept: Hot Ice Cream. She also branched into the holiday market with a new song and character, "Santa SMiZE," aiming to become the "princess of Christmas." These moves show a clear strategy to diversify the brand beyond just a frozen treat and into a full-scale lifestyle and entertainment entity.

Addressing the Legacy: ANTM Documentary and Victoria's Secret Silence

Tyra Banks has spent much of 2025 confronting the legacy of her most impactful creation, *America's Next Top Model* (*ANTM*), while also making a powerful statement about her current priorities in the fashion world.

The *America's Next Top Model* Confession

The scrutiny surrounding the past practices and controversial moments of *ANTM* has intensified in recent years. In 2025, Tyra Banks made a significant move by agreeing to be interviewed on camera for a forthcoming Netflix documentary series about the show.

More critically, she publicly addressed the backlash, delivering a candid and shocking admission while accepting the Luminary Spotlight honor at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards. She stated: "Did We Get It Right? Hell No. I Said Some Dumb S---." This moment of profound self-reflection and accountability resonated deeply with fans and critics. Banks also took the time to highlight the behind-the-scenes struggles, emphasizing how hard they fought to bring genuine diversity to the television landscape two decades ago.

Her participation in the documentary and her public statements demonstrate a willingness to engage with the show’s complicated history, suggesting a focus on legacy management and a desire to control the narrative surrounding her most famous creation.

Skipping the Victoria's Secret Runway Return

After making a celebrated return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2024, fans were shocked when Tyra Banks was notably absent from the 2025 event. She revealed the simple, yet telling, reason: business priorities. Tyra was in Australia at the time, promoting her Smize & Dream ice cream and its new concepts. The choice to prioritize an international business launch over a high-profile, nostalgic runway appearance on the New York catwalk is perhaps the clearest indication of her current mindset. It sends a powerful message: the supermodel is now, first and foremost, a global CEO.

Her appearance at the 2025 Fashion L.A. Awards, where she turned heads with a striking new look, proves she has not abandoned the world of glamour. Instead, she is choosing her moments carefully, using her fashion presence to celebrate her views on aging and her entrepreneurial status rather than solely modeling for other brands. This strategic selection of public appearances perfectly encapsulates the mogul phase of her career in 2025.

tyra banks now
tyra banks now

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