Just The Gist of… Tyra Banks (and her history of bizarre business failures).

February 11
1h 18m

Episode Description

With this week’s premiere of Netflix’s ‘Reality Check: America’s Next Top Model’, it seemed like a good time to take a look into the history of the Smize Queen herself: Tyra Banks. 


You know her as the creator and host of America’s Next Top Model. You know her as a Victoria’s Secret Model. You know her as the woman who yelled, “WE WERE ROOTING FOR YOU. WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU!”


But do you know Tyra Banks as the boss of several (failed) businesses? A Twilight-style Young Adult novel/movie/product empire called ‘Modelland’ that was cancelled after one book. A beauty line called ‘Tyra Beauty’ that was actually an MLM and folded in less than two years. A theme park based on… ‘models’ that she said was too hard to describe but was essentially just a place to get $1500 glamour shots (also no longer in business). And now, of course, we have Tyra’s ‘Hot Ice Cream’ at her ‘Smize and Dream’ ice cream store (which has already had some food regulation dramas). 

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Just The Gist is a Just The Network production. Executive Producer and Host: Rosie Waterland | Senior Producer and Editor: James Joseph | Producer: Kate Leaver | Additional production support: Hayley Staveley | Acast Legends: Guy Scott-Wilson and Simon McDermott | Production Assistant: Pocket

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Podcast: ‘Curse of America’s Next Top Model’


‘You Wanna Be On Top? A Memoir of Makeovers, Manipulation and Not Becoming America’s Next Top Model’ by Sarah Hartshorne


Episode of ‘The Big Flop’ podcast: ‘Tyra Banks - America’s Next Top Business Woman?’


Netflix doco ‘Reality Check: America’s Next Top Model’ trailer


ABC article by Casey Briggs: Tyra Banks' 'Hot Ice Cream' went viral. Don't expect to see it called that anymore (2026)


‘Shake Ya Body’ music video 


ModelLand ‘sizzle reel’ from an ANTM episode


The Cut article ‘I made a whopping $27.75 selling Tyra Banks beauty products’ by Kathleen Schaefer (2016)


Tyra Banks Wikipedia 



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