Supermodel.com's interjú:

DD: You seem to be very passionate about children's issues, where did this interest stem from, do you have a lot of children in your family?

TB: I have a lot of little cousins, nieces and nephews. Children and animals have always been my passion I guess because they're so innocent. They're born innocent and usually what corrupts them is society, so that's my passion. I want to have my own some day so I can direct that passion to my own.

DD: Are you still dating Seal?

TB: Yes.

DD: Any marriage plans?

TB: No. We're just happy and taking things really slowly.

DD: Did you have a good time with him in Monaco?

TB: It was all right. A lot of paparazzi. We couldn't do anything.

DD: A lot was made about the fact that you were the first black model on the cover of Sports Illustrated. What do you think about that?

TB: I think it was great that I broke the barrier. I guess it will go down in history -- modeling history -- you know, so it's nice.

DD: I know that you've been in some films in the past. Do you have any more acting aspirations?

TB: Yes. I've gotten a lot of offers and I just haven't really found anything that I'm really happy with yet. I'm taking it slow since I do have a modeling career. I don't have to rush out and do the next thing that I'm offered.

DD: Are you taking any acting lessons?

TB: No. Not now.

DD: Any interest in singing now that you're going out with Seal?

TB: I would love to play a singer, not because I'm going out with him, but I've always had a passion to play a singer in a movie. But, no. I'll leave the singing to Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and all of them.

(Q) Hey Tyra, how does it feel being Little Penny's girlfriend in the Nike ads?

(A) Making those spots is really fun, only thing is I can't walk down the street without someone saying, "Stop the car, that's Tyra Banks, fool!"

(Q) What's the most surprising thing you've found about the modeling industry?

(A) The careers are so short and the competition is so strong, models tend to get very insecure. I've been lucky enough to come from a really strong family, where I was taught only to compete with myself.

(Q) Food stylists use some pretty yucky tricks to make food look even more appealing to the camera. Are similar tricks used in the modeling industry?

(A) Well, to make your boobs look bigger, they'll shade between them to make a deeper shadow. If I have to smile a lot on a shoot, I'll put Vaseline on my teeth. [Then] it's not a strain to smile, it just sliiides. Sometimes, if a shirt is too small, they'll slice it down the back. If it's too big, your back is usually covered in safety pins to make it smaller! And of course, lots of hair and makeup! No model wakes up looking like you see her in a picture!

(Q) What do you like to do in your spare time?

(A) Right now, I'm watching Heat on HBO with my buddy! I love listening to all types of music. I love to paint pottery in L.A. And I'm always at the movies, cause it's about 40 seconds from my house in L.A.

(Q) Is your "buddy" anybody we know?

(A) Well, his name is Todd. No romantic connection. He's a freelance writer. Never been on the cover of People magazine, but he was on America's Most Wanted.

(Q) Did you have trouble getting dates in high school?

(A) I have trouble getting dates now! Guys don't ask me out. I guess they're intimidated, but I wish they'd ask me out.

(Q) Who are your role models?

(A) I think my mom would have to be my strongest role model. She always told me, "Don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do something." And when things get really tough in my career and my personal life, I just look at my mom's life. She's gone through some pretty serious, heavy things, and she's just stronger because of it.

(Q) What city did you grow up in?

(A) Born and raised in Los Angeles. Second-generation Angeleno!

(Q) How do you feel about being the first black woman--and the first model-- to be featured on the cover of GQ? Did you get a lot of positive feedback about that phenomenal picture?

(A) It's nice to be a part of history and to be breaking barriers. [But] it'll be nice one day to have no more "firsts"! Just 50ths and 60ths and 70ths. A lot of guys, even now, come up to me and they have [the magazine] in their bags and want me to sign it!

(Q) What is the shooting schedule like for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue?

(A) We'd get up at about 3 a.m., start makeup and hair about four, then shoot until about eight in the morning, nap and rest until 4 p.m., and then shoot until sundown. It was really grueling, but I guess that's the best light of the day, so you have to go with the flow.

(Q) How would you respond to the idea that you are in an industry that drives females to feel insecure about themselves?

(A) I just came from a Knicks came, and the men on the court were doing things that are almost supernatural. That probably makes little boys feel insecure, like they can never be Patrick Ewing. I think anything in entertainment has that potential. I think with the modeling industry, it's easy to go there, level that criticism. [However] at the same time, I do get a lot of letters from girls, about their insecurities, and I do feel the obligation to explain to them that 99 percent of the modeling industry is fantasy. It's fake. So, I am writing a book with Harper-Collins about self-esteem for young girls.

(Q) Is our society becoming more accepting of the black image of beauty?

(A) I think its a struggle everyday, and I'm glad I have a large part in breaking those barriers.

(Q) So you're you a big Knicks fan?

(A) I just came from a Knicks game about 20 minutes ago... And yes, I did have court side.

(Q) Tell us about your experience appearing on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air How was it working with Will Smith and the rest of the cast?

(A) Will Smith is really great. He's pretty much the same in real life as he is on the show, in fact.

(Q) Are you going to do any more screen work in the near future?

(A) I just finished a movie called Love Changes a romantic comedy that comes out in September. I play a really shallow, conceited bitch! She's the total opposite of me!

(Q) What's in your CD player?

(A) I like so many people. I love Alanis Morrisette. I love Snoop's new stuff, 'cause it's not so violent. I love Jewel--I constantly play "Who Will Save Your Soul" over and over again, it drives my mom crazy. The Cranberries.

(Q) What about books?

(A) I'm actually reading a book right now called An Actual Life by Abigail Thomas, and it's actually really funny. It's about a slightly neurotic wife whose husband is cheating on her, but she doesn't know, even though it's obvious. I just read Push by Sapphire. Very scary!

(Q) What are your long-term goals?

(A) I really want to have a family. I'm such a maternal person. I'd love to adopt a little boy in about 10 years. [And] I want to continue acting and take my modeling career to the top!

(Q) Do you have advice for young people who ask you about breaking into the modeling industry?

(A) There are a lot of different jobs in modeling. If you don't want to be involved in another way, be an assistant or intern. Start from the bottom up. But when it comes to the modeling, I got turned down by five agencies before one said, Yes. So I didn't give up at the beginning.

(Q) How do you keep your skin and body looking so healthy?

(A) I never sleep in my makeup; I wash my face twice a day. I run three miles, five times a week.

(Q) What's your best feature?

(A) I'm not really stick-skinny. The public considers me a voluptuous model. I like the meat on my bones!

(Q) Do you get tired of traveling the world? Which city do you despise?

(A) When I first started modeling, I lived in Paris for one year, and every time I get a job where I have to go to Paris, I get extremely depressed. I couldn't speak the language, I was only 17, my roommate was very mean to me. It just brings back bad memories.

(Q) Who's your favorite designer?

(A) I can't say, because they get mad and jealous. I don't want to get in trouble!

(Q) What's the best thing about being a "supermodel"?

(A) Nothing, because nobody asks me out on dates!

Tyra Banks , 21 years old, is now amongt the 10 best TOP MODELS increasingly demanded by top designers: Yves Saint Laurent, Gian Franco Ferré, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian lacroix, etc...But today, far from the Paris ian fashion shows, TYRA is acting on the setof John SINGLETON's third film "Higher Learning". With such vital statistics (1,79 m , 86-60-90), Tyra Banks began in the well known TV show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and she is preparing to act in other full length films alongside fellow I.M.G.models.

EJ: "Tyra, what could you tell us about your childhood?"

TB: "I used to always get into trouble in school. My mother was constantly called to the principal's office because I would not stop talking in class. I would try to challange my teachers because I thought I was smarter than all of them! Even though I was very mischievous, I always managed to get really good grades. When I was a very young child, my mother used to read to me all the time. Growing up as a young girl, I loved to read more than anything else. It was almost like an addiction and to this very day, I can spend hours and hours in bookstores around the world.I went through a very awkward stage from age 11 to 16. Over about three month period, I lost nearly 20 pounds and grew 2 inches! I was very tall for my age (5 feet and 9 inches). I looked as if I was ill. My mother took me to the best doctors to try to find out what was wrong with me. All of the doctors said that I was perfectly healthy. Prior to these physical changes I had had an extroverted personality with a lot of friends, but when I lost the weight and grew so tall, I withdrew within myself and became a "boring bookworm". I didn't feel comfortable in such a skinny body. I ate a lot of fattening foods but nothing seemed to work. All the popular girls at my school had started to develop breasts and heaps but my body just stay the same...straight and narrow! When I turned 17 years old, I started to gain weight and actually developed some curves. That is when my self-esteem improved and my modeling career began to take shape."

EJ: "Tell us about the first nine months you spent in Paris when you were 17.

TB: "I was completely miserable in Paris. I am very American, so it was a complete culture shock. I couldn't speak French, I didn't know how to ride the Metro and I was unaccustomed to French food (I lived on Mc Donald's and Burger King). I have to admit that Paris is one of the most beautiful places in all of the world. Unfortunately at that time, I was so homesick I couldn't appreciate its beauty. Paris is the city of love and I didn't have a boyfriend so I was kind of depressed. But now when I visit, I have a lot more fun because I have friends there, I can speak French, I adore the Champs-Elysées and one of my favorite desserts is creme brûlée!"

EJ: Who are your favorite photographers and why?

TB: "My favorite photographer in the whole world is Gilles Bensimon. He is the Creative Director and Principal Photographer for Elle Magazine. I love Gilles so much$because he is like a father. Whenever we go on trips around the world to do photo shoots, the crew that he uses is one big happy family. Gilles is such a delightful person and he is always kidding and playing practical jokes on everyone. For example, when I first met him, he said, "Who is this ugly girl? I don't want her in my magazine! Get her out of here now!!!"... He photographed my very first American Elle fashion story the next day!"

EJ: "Suchard choose you for its advertising campaign and Richard Avedon was the photographer for the shoot. Could you tell us about him and how it feels to work with such a talented person?"

TB: "Shooting this campaign was a magnificent experience. We had an amazing team that day: Oribe for hair, François Nars for make-up and the living legend Richard Avedon was the photographer. They put dark brown make-up all over my face and body so that I resembled a piece of Suchard chocolate candy. Then they applied gold leafing to my body to resemble the wrappong of the candy. The whole make-up process took hours and hours and the actual photography took just a few minutes. I was very happy with the results and honored to have had opportunity to work with Mr. Avedon. I hope the people of France enjoyed the final results as well."

EJ: "Are you regulary on diet to stay on top of your career?"

TB: "The only time I have ever been obsessed with my weight was when I was too skinny as a little girl. Now that I am a model, I do not to concern myself with watching my weight like a lot of models do. I love food and I feel that it is something that should be enjoyed. I eat whatever I want. I just don't overeat. When I am full, I stop eating. I love barbecued ribs with lots of sauce, fried chickeen wings and coffee Haagen Dazs ice-cream. I do not eat these things every day but I will definitely treat myself to them once or twice a month! I love vegetables (especially corn-on-the-cob and green beans) and I love all kinds of bread. Whenever I crave "junk food", I want salty things like peanuts or potato chips.I receive a lot of fan mail from people who say that they are pleased that I am not very skinny and that I have "meat on my bones". I think it is very important that women can open magazines and see models who have voluptuous, curvy bodies. I think it helps women to be more proud and comfortable with their own bodies. I personally love models like Iman, Helena Christianson, Claudia Schiffer and Cindy Crawford because looking at their bodies lets woman across the globe know that you don't have to be "bone thin" to be beautiful."

EJ: "Could you tell us something about your hobbies?"

TB: "I consider myself to be an athletic person. I love to play tennis, golf, volley-ball and basket-ball. I have a personal trainer that I adore working out with because we do different things each day. One day we'll go hiking in the mountains and the next day we'll go running on the sand at the beach. I never get bored with him! I also like to bowl (even though I'm not very good at it) and I love to snorkel whenever I'm in the Caribbean.

EJ: "You had a part in John Singleton's last movie "Higher Learning". Would you like to be an actress and stop your career in modeling?"

TB: "Doing the "Higher Learning" was an amazing experience for me. I played a track runner so I had to workout 4 hours a day, 7 days a week for about 3 weeks with an Olympic gold medalist winning coach. This hectic shedule tired me out but it paid all off in the long run. I was very excited to do this role because the character was just a normal 19 old year old girl attending college on an athletic scholarship. I didn't wear any extravagant makeup or hairstyles I just wanted to look as realistic as possible.I had previously been offered many parts where I had to play a glamorous, beautiful "bombshell". I turned down all of the offers because I wanted my first movie role to portray a character that was very much opposite of this image. My portrayal of "Deja" in "Higher Learning" schocked many people because they expected me to look more like a model.All of my hard work was worth it because I received very good reviews from both film critics and the public.People always ask me if I'm going to stop modeling because I have started an acting career. The answer is definetely "NO"!!! I am still a model and I hope to continue to model for years to come. I enjoy doing fashion shows and transforming myself into different looks for photo shoots. I love acting because it allows me, like modeling, to transform myself and also allows me to express myself verbaly, which is something that I surely can't do when I'm modeling. You can't model for the rest of your life, so it is important to diversify your career."

EJ: "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in which you appear is famous worldwide, what are your projects regarding it?

TB: "I loved working on this TY show. The whole cast and crew were all very nice. Working for them never seemed like work because I was always having so much fun. Everyone continuously asks me, "What is it like working with Will Smith?". Sometimes Will was so much like his character on the show that I often could not tell if he was acting or not.This show was my first acting experience and I learned a lot. We taped in front of a live audience so in the beginning, I was very nervous. During the first few shows, just before taping began, I would feel terrified that I had forgotten all of my lines. But when the director said,"ACTION!", I'd suddenly remember all my lines and I'd have no problem."

EJ: "How do you organize your private life with all your different professional activities?"

TB: " In the industry, I think I'm known for being a loner or keeping to myself. I've never been a "party girl" because I don't seem to have much fun at clubs. When I'm home in Los Angeles, I love going to the movies and to dinner with my friends that aren't in the entertainment industry. Surrounding myself with these great people keeps me from going crazy. My best model friends are Niki Taylor and Rebecca Romijn, I love their company. Whenever we had job assignments together our work seems more like play. I always take out time for myself to sit back and relax. I am self-employed so I control my own work shedule. If I want to work, I will. If I don't want to work, I won't.This is one of my favorite aspects of my job. I'm in control and I love it! I recently purchased a home in Los Angeles. On my days off from work, I enjoy decorating my new home or just laying on the couch with my dog, reading or watching TV. I love the TV talk shows like Oprah Winfrey and Ricki Lake. I find it humorously entertaining to watch some of the outrageous people that tell their bizarre and extremely personal stories on national TV. Even though I am protective of my own personal life, I must confess that I enjoy watching people that don't mind telling it all."

EJ: "It was said in the press that John Singleton is no longer your boyfriend. Do you have a new one?"

TB: "I don't have a new boyfriend right now. All of my friends are constantly trying to introduce me to men of all different types. I haven't met anyone that I like yet, so I've told my friends to please stop trying to find me a new boyfriend.Dating is very difficult for me. Most men think that I'm going to act like the images they see of me in magazines. When they found out that I'm just a normal woman it confuses them. They can't understand how I can be so normal and have such a glamorous job. I'm sure there are some strong men that won't be intimidated by what I do; however, they are hard to find. Right now, I'm more happy to just hang out with my girlfriends and not think about the whole dating game."

EJ: " Could you tell us some of your projects in a close future?"

TB: "My ultimate goal is to become a multi-talented entertainer and acting is simply one big step towards this objective."

In today's world it is the supermodel -- the long-legged, larger-than-life, world renowned beauty--that steals the spotlight. Now, ET's own TONY POTTS takes a limo ride with TYRA BANKS to get the real deal about men, dating, and the proper time and place for Victoria's Secret lingerie!

ET: So do you ever get nervous going to these fashion shows where there's going to be thousands of people?

TB: I never get nervous for appearances ever, ever. I get excited and energetic about it cause with modeling and even with acting you're not working with an audience, you're not performing for an audience, 'cause rarely do I do fashion shows anymore so this is the time when I get to see the public and interact.

ET: It's nice to get that energy too. You can't get that energy when you're acting by yourself.

TB: Yeah, you can't. When you're posing for a magazine you can't.

ET: Big question. A lot of women probably want to know - what do you wear on a first date because you have said "It's very important what you wear underneath in addition to what you actually wear for clothes. What would you wear on first date?

TB: I have a date tomorrow. Let's see. I probably don't want to look like I'm trying too hard so I'll wear some jeans and probably a T-shirt and some flip-flops. (Laughs). Some Nike flip-flops or something. But I do my hair a little and some makeup and make my jewelry nice and simple and cute so it looks like I spent a little time but I feel kind of weird if I get really dressed up. I feel kind of desperate. "Like me, like me." I try to say, "this is how it is when I wake up in the morning" even though it's not. You make them think that it is.

ET: I don't think you have to worry about that do you?

TB: Oh yeah I do.

ET: Are guys afraid of you? Afraid to approach you?

TB : All the timeguys are afraid to approach me and even if I approach them, we go out a couple of times, they're comfortable in the beginning and then they flip out. I'm like normal and natural acting all stupid and goofy, picking my nose and all that kind of stuff and they're just like "This is a model! This is Tyra Banks!" Then they flip out and run away.

ET: That must be the flip side of being a model. Sometimes people can't handle it and they go, "Oh, it's Tyra Banks as opposed to this cool person."

TB: Exactly. And I'm like "Okay, this is date number four, so he'll probably flip out on date number seven. So we have at least two more times to have a good time."

ET: Now, you're not telling me that you're lonely, are you?

TB: Oh no. I'm not lonely. I have lots of friends but I do get desperate sometimes and then I'll go on these blind dates and get hooked up and stuff but I'm not desperate right now.

ET: Tyra Banks goes on blind dates?

TB: I've gone on blind dates before.

ET: Wow.

TB: I don't have to say "I'm the one in the red sweater," I guess.

ET: Was that nerve-racking?

TB: Yeah, it is. I get all nervous and weird. It's never worked. It's never, ever worked. 'Cause my friend's like, "No, he's fine, he's cute." And I'm like, "He's 5'2" and I'm six feet tall!" So, it hasn't worked.

ET: So those lifts aren't working for the guys, I guess.

TB: No. It only makes them an inch and half taller.

ET: What about lingerie kind of stuff. Do you wear things on dates underneath - not that they're going to see it - but things certain lacey things that make you feel good... like Victoria's Secret type stuff. They won't see it, but you know you feel good.

TB : I wear Victoria'sSecret all the time but I don't necessarily make it fancy for a date 'cause they AIN'T gonna see it. So, we'll just make sure it's some cotton bloomers or something 'cause it doesn't matter. I'm not one of those types of girls.

ET: No, but what I'm trying to say is that sometimes people like to feel good.

TB : Not me. Tony: You just go with what you've got.

TB : Yeah.

ET: So, you have date tomorrow night, huh? Are you nervous?

TB : No.

ET: Are you up to the sixth date yet?

TB: No, this is the first one!

ET: It's not a blind date, is it?

TB: No, I've seen him before.

ET: Is it tougher to date famous people then people who you just meet in your daily life?

TB: It's tough to date famous people or even have famous friends that are guys because people think that you're dating them. You can't hang out. I have a famous friend who's married and we're like really cool friends but every time we're out it's like "Ooohhh... they're cheating on the wife." And it's like, no, we're just really good friends. He's one of my best friends. But when it comes to dating, yeah it is difficult. They just talk about you and then you hear rumors. I had an ex-boyfriend that happened to be famous and he heard that I was in a club, that I don't really go to, with some man in L.A. I was in Paris for two weeks! You know what I mean? But if I was in L.A., he would have been tripping out.

ET: So that makes it tough. Do you ever planned to get married down the road?

TB: I don't really care. I don't really care about marriage. That's terrible to tell all the American families, to not get married. No...

ET: That ia a choice. That's why we're in America.

TB: My mom raised me really strong. So it's not like I'm looking for this husband to take care of me or to even complete me. But I do want kids! So, I guess I'll have to adopt cause I don't really want to have them, y'know come out of me without a husband I guess. So that is my family values there. But I would adopt. Tony: Yeah? You don't want to do the whole Jodie Foster thing?

TB: No. I want people to know who the daddy is. Do people know who her daddy is?

ET: Not too many people I don't think. Nobody knows.

TB: I rather just do the adoption type thing.

ET: What are some of the sweeter things people have said to you?

TB: People think they're saying sweet things to me, but they're not. Like, "You look so much prettier than your pictures. You're so beautiful in person." I'm like "You're saying that my pictures are ugly." I actually care less how I look in person. Where I make my money is in those books, so I'd rather the compliment was flipped.

ET: Just say, "You look as beautiful as your pictures."

TB: They never say that. I've never heard that. It's always, "Better in person."

ET: What's the ideal guy for you? To be a buddy and maybe a date?

TB: Somebody who you can just have fun with. Y'know, that I can just have fun. It's important, if I did have a boyfriend to be able to tell him my insecurities. 'Cause I'm really strong and I don't really tell people what's bothering me, so I have to have somebody whose shoulder I can cry on.

MARCH 1998 - She was already a rising star in the modelling world when fortune struck her in the strangest of forms. Despite the fact that she had already been the first African-American women to grace the cover of GQ and Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue, despite having already starred in John Singleton's Higher Learning and on TV's "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," it was a 14-inch; doll that etched her forever into the nation's collective conscience. Voiced by Chris Rock, it was Lil' Penny scolding Anfernee Hardaway with the now-immortal words, "That's Tyra Banks, Fool!" which made her a star among stars. Like any big break, it was both a blessing and a curse. Sure, she's rich and famous, the author of her own book (the just-released, Tyra's Beauty In & Out), an up-and-coming actress and perhaps one of the world's most recognizable faces, but she'd trade at all at the drop of a hat to be able to leave her house without hearing some idiot holler, "that's Tyra Banks, fool!" in his worst Lil' Penny voice. Well, maybe not, but it's not as far-fetched as you might think.

In this post-modern, information age, stardom means opening up your life to the media whether you like it or not. As Tyra Banks star rose, the vultures descended ready to pick apart her life to find the improprieties. They dug and they dug and they dug, and I'd guess many of them are still digging, but so far they've come up with nothing. No orphaned children, no flings with prominent, married public officials, no unauthorized video tapes, no drug-induced early morning rampages, not even a couple of naked photos taken while she was "young and naive." For chrissake, even her breasts are real. Sorry to disappoint, Tyra's about as squeaky clean as they come. She doesn't drink or smoke, she's never even tried drugs and her sexual exploits have never travelled behind the confines of her bedroom walls. Beyond that, by all accounts she's a genuinely nice person. It's enough to make your skin crawl.

Banks got her start in modelling at the behest of a friend while in high school. By 15 she had already appeared in Seventeen Magazine and at 17 she graced her first cover. Since then she's risen quickly, notching cover after cover of every major magazine in the world, scoring high-profile gigs with Victoria's Secret and Cover Girl and branching out into acting, taking supporting roles in both movies and tv. Recently she added publishing to her checklist of "things-to-do," authoring a book, Tyra's Beauty In & Out with noted fashion writer, Vanessa Thomas Bush. With so much on her plate, we were happily surprised that she was more than willing to talk to us about what's going on in her world, why she will never make a movie as bad as Fair Game, and all the reasons why she might go out with you.

A lot has been made about you being the first Black woman on the cover of GQ, the first black woman on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Do you feel its harder for blacks to break into modelling than whites?

Yes. I think if you just look at the magazines you can see the ratios. It's all about supply and demand. There's not really a big representation of black models as compared to white models. It doesn't equal the percentage of blacks in America. So definitely it is more difficult if a black model wants to get in the industry. Already as a white model you have a lot of rejection. You add you're color to that and its ten times the rejection.

Do you it changing at all or is it too ingrained in the system?

I see it changing. It's changing slowly, I wish it would change faster. As long as its changing, as long as we see a progression, that's all that matters.

Do you think the strides you've made have made a difference in changing things?

Definitely. Anytime you have a first, the next time it's no longer a big, huge deal. The next black woman to get the covers I've gotten will just be a normal thing. So I'm glad I'm knocking down all these firsts so it's not a phenomenon that it's just a normal thing.

Within the black community there has been a conflict, especially among women, between light skin and dark skin ideals of beauty. Does this transfer into the modelling world? Do you feel it was easier for you to break into modelling because you're relatively fair-skinned?

I actually disagree. In the modelling industry, if you look at the past supermodels, they were all dark-skinned models. You look at Iman, Beverly Johnson, Naomi Simms, Naomi Campbell--those were all sort of chocolate-hued models that have broken the barriers before I got there. So I think it's kind of an odd thing that I've done so well in my shade.

You had a part in Higher Learning as well as playing Will Smith's girlfriend for a little while on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air." Do you have intentions of trying to make the jump from model to actress?

That's definitely something I want to pursue more. My modelling career gives me a chance to make a lot of money and not have to worry about acting to eat and to live. So I act when I want to or when I find something that's fun or interesting for me to do. I've been working on a book for the last two years so my acting's taken a back seat to that. Now, the book is complete so I may be doing some more acting.

Supermodels from Kathy Ireland to Cindy Crawford have made notoriously bad choices when it came to their acting careers. How are you planning to avoid those pitfalls?

Just reading the script and saying that's a stupid role, I'm not gonna do it. Just the fact that I don't have desperation when it comes to that. And the fact that I know that I can act, and I wouldn't do something that I know I'd be bad in.

Have you taken any acting classes?

No, I think it's just something that comes naturally to me. I like acting the fool. I usually act the fool with my friends. In fact, when my mom's friends used to come over for holidays, I'd get my cousins and friends together and we'd choreograph dances and songs and I'd always have to be the lead singer and perform. So I just have that inside of me.

So should we be looking for Tyra Banks Sings the Hits in stores soon?

Oh no. (laughing) I can dance and move like Janet Jackson but when I open my mouth it does not sound like Mariah Carey. So I don't think that will be happening anytime soon. Some people want to do everything. I know what I'm good at.

You've expressed pretty open disdain for the modelling community and claim to have sworn off dating celebrities. What is it about that lifestyle that turns you off?

I just like to come home and not talk about work and talk about this photographer and this model and this hairdresser. So that's why I try to stay away from that whole Hollywood modelling scene. Like, I'll come home from something and my little cousins will be like, "Tyra did you see any stars? Who did you see? Who are your friends?" And I'm like "I kind of know that person and that person but it's not like we're hanging out." It's not that they're bad people--there are some great people in the industry--I don't know for some reason, I've just never really been able to relate. I mean, I have some friends who are quote-unquote famous. But they have the same kind of views I do: that they're strange.

Yeah but you dated Seal for a little while though and he's pretty strange. Which brings up another good point: why do so many beautiful models date ugly rock stars?

Well, I think in the 80s it was a pretty big thing--when I wasn't modelling--that all these models were dating rock stars. And then towards the mid- to late 90s, I mean I dated someone for like a month, really casual--it wasn't even a boyfriend, it was really quick--and people put me in that group. But with me, it's just whoever asks me out and is really nice and has a little something going on, I'll go out with them. And that happens about once a year. (laughs)

Y'know, I've read that stuff before, and I don't buy it.

It's true. They're just so intimidated. I was just going out with this guy now that's just so scared of me that finally I was just like--goodbye. You just aren't strong enough to handle me.

Damn. Dumped by Tyra Banks. I guess there's some dignity in that...

(laughs) Yeah, so when somebody asks you out and they're really aggressive, but in a smart way not like (in a low, guttural voice) "Hey, baby...." But if he's like a nice guy and he's flirting and paying you some attention, you're not used to that. So you're like, "Wow! I'll go out with you."

Damn. I can't believe it's that easy. All this time I've spent trying to think of some elaborate plan...

Yeah. It's pretty simple. Anybody can go out with me you just have to know how to do it.

So we've established that it's easy for a guy to go out with you, but how would a man go about really charming you?

Okay. Just be really nice, be really funny. Joke with me. Don't be afraid to compliment me. A lot of guys think, "oh you're a model, so I'm not gonna say you're beautiful. I'm not gonna say your hair looks nice." It's okay to say that because if a guy says that it's different than a photographer saying it or a fan saying it. And just be aggressive. Be nasty.

Okay. Now that we've charmed you, how can you tell if we're really interested or if we just want to be known as "the guy dating Tyra Banks."

You can't tell. Some guys are real slick and you can't tell what their agenda is. That's something that just takes a little bit of time. That's the kind of guy who'll be really cool in the beginning and then after a while he's like , "Dress up like you did in that picture and come with me to my high school reunion." Or other times some guys might show it off really soon in the beginning. They might just keep calling me by my first and last name a lot. Y'know, "Tyra Banks, can you pass the salt? Tyra Banks..."

The fashion industry has been criticized for sending a bad message to young girls--especially in the 90s with the whole "heroin-chic" thing--do you think things have improved at all recently?

The modelling industry goes in and out of different styles and body types that are supposed to be hot at that moment. And right now, it's not so much the heroin-chic, because the models are looking a little bit healthier to me--and when I say healthy, I don't even mean body type, I mean just facial pigment and stuff like that. They have blush on their cheeks now again and they look a little healthier. But still such a stick, skinny ideal--which would have worked for me when I was 11 years old because I was 98 pounds and my same height and now I'm 130. So I was really, really thin and insecure. It would have worked well for me to look at that in a magazine and see that that was called beautiful. But the majority of little girls aren't that way. The majority of them are struggling with their weight and are the opposite way. So I just think it's important to show different body types and say that they are all beautiful which is not really what they do. They tend to dictate a certain look every 5-10 years.

Do you think there's a difference between white people's ideals about women's beauty and black ideals?

I talk about that in the fitness chapter of my book. When I lost all this weight--I went to an all-black private elementary school--and all the kids used to call me all kinds of horrible names. Then when I went to a mixed junior high school and all of my white friends would be like, "Oh my god, you're so gorgeous. You're so skinny." By the way, I looked disgusting, I looked sick. But they'd be like "You're so skinny. I wish I could be like you." And all my black friends would be like, "Girl, eat a pork chop! You are so skinny." And the white guys would be like "Tyra's cute" and the black guys would be like, "She's too skinny. She needs some booty. I don't want her." So it's so cultural. And it's sad because women, when it comes to their body types are ruled by men in their culture. So white women want to be super skinny because that's what white men seem to be attracted to. And the black guys want more meat.

Another contributing factor to all the insecurities about body-type seems to be the huge rise in plastic surgery. Most models have had at least some plastic enhancement. Do you think that adds to the problem as well? I mean, you have these girls looking at what they think to be perfect bodies which were actually sculpted by knives.

You know what, the whole plastic surgery thing with me--I think it's more about retouching of pictures and with lighting and deception in that way. Because you're not going to take a heavy, heavyset woman, give her liposuction and make her gorgeous. So, you already have to have a little something of a base to have some plastic surgery and make you look amazing and make somebody jealous. When you're in a magazine, you can shave 30 pounds off of you. I mean I do it. I make my waist smaller. I take the dark circles off under my eyes when I have control of a certain photo. And I just say models are masters of deception and illusion. So I don't think plastic surgery's such a big deal as much as looking at these retouched images that computers have created. And I look at magazines sometimes and say, "Damn! She's gorgeous!" and I don't realize they just removed all her moles and freckles and took a rib out or two.

So if all those photos are retouched what do you really look like, y'know, like first thing the morning?

Oooh. You want to know what I look like right now?

Yes. Please.

Oh my gosh. Let's see. My hair's all over my head. It's sticking straight up and it's dirty and full of dandruff. And every time I scratch my scalp, I get this gook of nasty dandruff under my nails. Dark circles under my eyes. My eyes might be puffy right now, they feel a little puffy. My mom spent the night and she turns the heater all the time so I'm all puffy probably. I think I have a little bit of a shadow underneath my armpits. I haven't shaved in two days...

That wasn't as much fun as I thought it was going to be. Maybe you could send us a picture now. We could use it for the cover.

Oh you don't want that. But if you look in my book there are some pretty raw pictures in there.

You've gotten to work with celebrities from all walks of life, most recently I know you did a Cover Girl ad campaign with Ziggy Marley. How did you guys get along?

He was so cool. He told them, "Okay, you want me for this commercial, well I want a Lear Jet, and I want suites at a hotel and I want a date with Tyra Banks." And Cover Girl wanted him so bad they were like, "OK." But when he met me he was just very shy and I was like, wait, you said he had a crush on me? He's acting like I'm not even alive. But then he warmed up and he was really fun.

What's the hardest thing about being Tyra Banks?

The hardest thing is women. Y'know, women think because their boyfriends are oohing and aahing about a retouched picture that I think that I'm all that. And they hate me because their boyfriends like me. They don't understand. They don't know how I look when I wake up how I look at a photo shoot before retouching. I probably look like them. Just taller. So that's hard, getting all those weird reactions.

How'd you first get into modelling?

I had a friend when I was in the ninth grade in high school. She came up to me the first day of school and said that I looked like a model and did I want to be a model like she was? And we became best friends and she left school early to model. She actually didn't go to the 12th grade, she went to Paris. And she tried to convince me to go and I said `no, I want to stay in school.' So I modelled part-time after school in the 12th grade. And after that I got accepted to five colleges but then a Paris agency saw some pictures of me and convinced me to come to Paris and take one year off of college and then go back to school. Which I never did (because I did so well in my modelling.)

Was it a traumatic time going to Paris when you were 18 years old?

Well, I was 17 actually cause I graduated early, so it was difficult because all my friends were making all these plans for school and they were all going to the school that I was going to go to. And from hearing that and here I am going off to Paris all by myself. So it was really difficult. One of the reasons was because I didn't speak the language. And i'm not very social. I tend to be by myself so I didn't have a lot of friends. And i'd go to movies by myself. And I was pretty lonely because a lot of models like to party and drink and hang out and I wasn't into that. I'd rather be by myself.

If you had a daughter would you let her become a model?

I'd let her become anything she's wants to become but I wouldn't encourage the modelling at all. But I wouldn't tell her, "don't do it" because of course it would only make her want to do it more. But I don't think it's the healthiest thing. I mean hopefully my daughter would be very strong but I don't know if she'd necessarily be as strong as I am. It's not cut out for everybody and I'd hope my daughter wouldn't want to do it.