Tyra Banks, America's Top Model

Tyra Banks.

Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973) is an African-American television personality, producer, author, actress, and former model. Tyra is one of the true superstars of modelling, a one-name celebrity who has achieved transcendent success across many lines of celebrity.

Tyra, originally a California girl, comes from a brainy background. Her parents are Caroline London (now London-Johnson), a NASA photographer, and Donald Banks, a computer consultant. Tyra was determined to become a model and was rejected by four modeling agencies before she was signed by L.A. Models.

Tyra switched to Elite Model Management at age 16. She achieved worldwide renown upon walking at 25 shows at the 1991 Paris Fashion Week.

Banks then moved on to the upper tiers of modelling, breaking barriers along the way. She was the first African American woman on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. and in 1997 received the VH1 award for, "Supermodel of the Year." That year she also became the first-ever African American chosen for the cover of the Victoria's Secret catalog.

Tyra's fame became too intense for just the modelling world, so she moved into acting. She appeared in seven episodes of "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," and followed up with many other tv shows and movies such as "Higher Learning."

Tyra on "America's Next Top Model," a huge success because of her engaging personality.

Tyra then started her own production company, which produced numerous popular shows in which she starred: "The Tyra Banks Show," "America's Next Top Model," and many other productions.

Tyra is active in charities and philanthropic endeavors. She is a legend of modelling and has mentored many aspiring models. Tyra Banks remains a force to be reckoned with and a major celebrity.

Tyra making a funny face - she's just fooling around, she's a beauty, of course. 

Tyra announced that she and her boyfriend, Erik Asla, had a baby boy via surrogate on 27 January 2016. The baby is named York Banks Asla.

Tyra Banks is behind the TZONE charity, as well as the Tyra Banks Scholarship for girls wishing to attend her high school, Immaculate Heart High School.

2017

Danita Angell, Oregon Sunshine

Danita Angell.

Danita Angell (born March 26, 1986, Aries) is an American model from Oregon who appeared in the 2000 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She is 5'10" and has blonde hair and green eyes.

"Danita" is a variant of the name Danna, which in turn derives from Daniel, meaning "God is my judge" in Hebrew. It also has the same meaning in English and Spanish. It was a popular girl's name in the 1960s.

Danita was an only child who was discovered at a very young age. She was named as a New Millennium "It" Girl by Harper's Bazaar.

Danita was very active on the runways of the top brands in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She walked for Balmain, Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy, Valentino and Versace, among many others.

Danita's ready-to-wear appearances included:

• Alexander McQueen
• Balenciaga
• Calvin Klein
• Chanel
• Christian Dior
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Dries van Noten
• Fendi
• Givenchy
• Gucci
• Helmut Lang
• Jil Sander
• John Galliano
• Louis Vuitton
• Marc Jacobs
• Missoni
• Miu Miu
• Moschino
• Oscar de la Renta
• Prada
• Ralph Lauren
• Roberto Cavalli
• Valentino
• Versace
• Vivienne Westwood
• Yves St. Laurent.

Danita's covers included Italian and Russian Vogue, Spur, and Surface.

This photo and the similar pictures are from a W editorial in June 2000.

Danita Angell for Calvin Klein, Spring 1998.

2017

May Andersen, Danish Legend

May Andersen.

Lykke May Andersen (born 16 June 1982, Copenhagen, Denmark), known most commonly as May Andersen, is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Danish model. May is known for her work with Victoria's Secret and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In her home country, May is known better as Lykke May, but in the English-speaking world she goes by May Andersen and nobody would know who you meant if you started talking about Lykke Somebody.

Photo:: Martin Høien/BILLED-BLADET

May was discovered at a young age by a passing photographer on the street. She debuted on the runway at Valentino haute couture in Paris in July 1998, then landed on the cover of Italian Marie Claire a year later. The year 1999 was when May really hit her stride, appearing in campaigns for BCBG, Gianfranco Ferré, Miu Miu, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Prada, and Valentino.

May moved to New York the following year, and unfortunately was in a traffic accident that same year when a garbage truck hit her car. May sustained pelvis injuries and received an award from the city, but has fully recovered.

Among May's career highlights aside from Victoria's Secret are appearing on the cover of Italian Glamour and Marie Claire in 2001 and in the February 2003 and 2004 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editions.

May has no problem with nudity - perhaps it's a Scandinavian thing. There have been numerous nude "leaks" of her on the Internet. She herself capitalized on her good looks with an au naturel appearance in the May, 2012 edition of Playboy Magazine.

May is known for her quick temper. "“I did a little bit of anger management, which I didn't need at all,” she told New York Magazine. That happened in 2006 after she was arrested for hitting a flight attendant on a flight from Amsterdam to Miami on April 24th of that year. That didn't slow her career down at all, and she walked for Christian Dior and Elle Saab in 2007.

Married to filmmaker Julian Schnabel, May had a baby boy, Shooter Sandhed Julian Schnabel Jr., on June 20, 2012. "Sandhed" is a Danish word meaning "truth." Fellow model Stephanie Seymour threw a lavish baby shower for the couple at Schnabel's West Village apartment the previous March, at which Schnabel unveiled a 20-foot artwork of his pregnant, nude fiancee.

May Anderssen with husband Julian Schnabel (credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic).

Her friends include Noémie Lenoir, Julie Ordon, Jessica White, Devon Aoki, Marcus Schenkenberg, Helena Christensen, Ana Beatriz Barros, Rosie Huntington, and Mary-Kate Olsen. May is a fashion designer of the line Chicks with Guns.

May previously dated Marcus Schenkenberg (2001), Stephen Dorff (2003), Steve-O (2004), Kid Rock (2007), and Jamie Burke.

May Andersen with former boyfriend Kid Rock.

May Andersen is currently the assistant director at Hole Gallery in New York.

Models Jessica White, Marisa Miller, May Andersen and Ana Beatriz Barros, pose at the afterparty for Victoria's Secret's debut of the 'What is Sexy' 2007 list at the Tao Beach at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino April 19, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

2017

Mini Andén, Talented Actress

Mini Andén.

Susanna "Mini" Andén (born 7 June 1978) is a Stockholm girl who became a top model, actress, one-time tv host, and producer. She began modelling early, at age 10, and was signed by Elite at age 15.

Since then, Mini has become one of the top models in the business. She remains signed to Elite, as well as to several other agencies.

Among Mini's covers are Vogue, Arena, Marie Claire, Cosomopolitan and ELLE. Some of the designers she's worked with are Tom Ford, Donna Karan, and Calvin Klein.

One of Mini's high profile campaigns was as the face of Giorgio Armani's perfume Armani Code for Women.

She participated in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2003 and has been in the catalog several times.

Along with her fashion success, Mini has become a talented actress. Her film roles include "Tropic Thunder" (2008), "The Mechanic" (2011) and "Ocean's Twelve" (2004).

Mini also hosted the first season of "Sweden's Next Top Model" in 2005. She has had numerous roles on television series since then, including "Bones," "Chuck" and "CSI: Miami." Mini had a recurring role on "Chuck" as Carina Miller.

Mini is a dog lover and, along with husband Taber Schroeder (also a model) has seven of them. The two met while filming an advertisement and married on August 25, 2001. Mini gave birth to a son named Felix Schroeder on May 2013 and has kept a low professional profile since then.

Mini is an expert ice skater, having trained in it all her life up to age 18. Her nickname "Mini" comes from what her family called her when she was just a baby.

We only wish that Mini would act more so that we can see more of her on the small screen!

2017

Alessandra Ambrosio, Brazilian Legend

Pink Angel Alessandra Ambrosio

Alessandra Ambrosio.

Alessandra Corine Ambrósio (born April 11, 1981) is a Brazilian Victoria's Secret model. She is one of the top-earning models in the world and was the first face of the Victoria's Secret PINK line. She is legendary among Victoria's Secret models for having walked (so far) in 13 shows, a feat matched only by fellow Brazilian Adriana Lima (yes, there is something going on down in Brazil).

From Erechim, Brazil, Alessandra is of Polish and Italian heritage. She started pursuing modelling while still a girl, enrolling in a modelling class at age 12.

That decision to study modelling led Alessandra to Brazil's Elite Model competition, where her natural beauty got Alessandra noticed for sure. This in turn led to top modelling jobs, and soon Alessandra appeared on Brazil's Elle cover.

After that, the world of fashion was hers. Alessandra began getting covers left and right. Among her sponsors have been Revlon, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, GUESS?, and her own line of Alessandra Ambrosio by Sais swimwear. Designers such as Prada, Chanel and Oscar de la Renta love Alessandra, and her covers include Glamour, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan. You just don't do better than that as a model.

Alessandra supports worthy causes and is open to other opportunities. She is the National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and has branched out into film, appearing in "Casino Royale" guest starring on an episode of "How I Met Your Mother" with other Victoria's Secret models.

The outstanding thing about Alessandra's modelling career is that she is among the elite of Victoria's Secret models, so she is one of the elite of the elite. Aside from nabbing the PINK spokesperson role, she opened the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2009, and in 2010 scored the huge honor of wearing the priceless "Fantasy Bra" created by London Jewelers.

All of this has made Alessandra a true celebrity. Thus, Alessandra has become a fixture on late night talk shows and has been a guest judge on "The Tyra Banks Show" and "Project Runway."

There is no question that Alessandra Ambrosio is one of the most beautiful women in the world, as confirmed by numerous "Sexiest" lists, and has many years of top modelling ahead of her.

Alessandra first walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2005, and has walked every year since. She is famous for wearing an outfit made only of candy in her first year.

Alessandra also walked in 2008 although she had given birth to her first baby only three months earlier (she now has two children).

In 2012, Alessandra wore the Floral Fantasy Bra, created by London Jewelers. It featured amethysts, rubies, sapphires and diamonds (including a 20-carat white diamond in the center), all set in rose and yellow gold. A matching belt added more than 5,200 precious stones.

Then, in 2014, she wore the Dream Fantasy Bra along with Adriana Lima, generally considered the peak of being an Angel. It is hard to keep all these Fantasy Bras straight, but rest assured: each time was a huge honor.

Among many other career highlights, Alessandra appeared as herself in the 2016 film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

  

2017