Tyra Banks on her idol, favourite fashion moment and launching her business in the Middle East

In fear of sounding far too cliché, it seems as though 2023 is starting on a spectacular course with remarkable public figures heading over to the ever-growing cosmopolitan that is Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Among those who have flocked to the dubbed ‘City of Gold’ is the famed American TV personality, model, producer, writer, and actor, Tyra Banks.

Although those around the globe recognise the celebutante as being both the host and executive producer of the cult-classic American reality TV show America’s Next Top Model, in addition to establishing her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show (2005-2010)—Tyra has spent the majority of her professional life breaking boundaries and honing in on becoming the ultimate business woman of the 21st century.

Now, Tyra is entering the food and beverage industry with Smize & Dream, where entertainment and ice cream meet on a global scale.

Here, Bazaar Arabia’s Deputy Editor, Jessica Michault, and Social Media Editor, Anahita Ghai, speak to Tyra Banks about success, style, and her future entrepreneurial endeavours…

Jessica Michault (JM): You have ventured into many areas since your days as a supermodel… but ice cream still feels like quite a departure. There is already a lot of competition in the ice cream space, so what made you feel like this was the right direction to go in now, and what do you think you are adding to the conversation?

Tyra Banks (TB): I have this passion. It’s a family passion. My mom is obsessed. I live with my mom and she has ice cream parties every night with my son and they do it secretly, when say, “we can’t have it every night”.

I was inspired by Cracker Jack, that comes with a prize inside. As a kid, you want that prize so bad that you fight with your family, cousins, whatever. So I knew I wanted the brand to be more about the experience than just an ice cream. I’m a fan of super premium ice cream, so I wanted that. I wasn’t interested in launching with keto or anything like that. I felt like that would be brand extensions, of course. I’m going to go with traditional and top quality, but our differentiator is that we’re going to have a prize inside and really focus on the child within you.

JM: You have done so many different things in your career, modelling, acting, singing, you’re an author, a producer. Can you talk a bit about how you decide where to focus your energy?

TB: It’s interesting. One thing I don’t like is when I get introduced with a whole bunch of titles—I’ve written books but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m an author. I’ve acted but that doesn’t mean I’m an actor, and I feel like it’s a little insulting to Nicole Kidman or Viola Davis or true actors. If an actor does a couple of campaigns for a designer, it doesn’t mean they are a model. I’m a multi-hyphenate; I’m okay with some of the titles but not all of them.

Where I put my energy now is what makes me the most happy and right now, it is the business. A lot of it is done in my pyjamas on a Zoom call in bed. It is something that I get pleasure from. When I’m working on my business, it’s everything for me as a businesswoman, and I don’t do a good job of showing the world a lot of what I do because I love privacy so much. I’m not the person that’s going to always say, “Look at me, Look at me,” with the behind-the-scenes. I like to get it done and then present something great.

I also know the generation today, they don’t want to see the just the finished product they want to see the process where I talk about the bumps and the bruises, and I need to do a better job of showing that.

JM: Why did you feel that the UAE and teaming up with Brunch and Cake was the right step for your business?

TB: For a couple of reasons. We have some close friends and family that spent summers with us. So, we’ve been spending time with them here. Additionally, my life partner, who is also the CFO of the company, has done a lot of business in the region in the past. So naturally, he has business connections here. We were connected to Sara, who runs the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and she said, “When you guys are spending some time here, why don’t you come and join this initiative that I’m doing to bring people of colour, women-led businesses from the States here?” So I talked to her and started working with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. They gave us this coming out party last year and now we’re out and about.

Anahita Ghai (AG): I would love to play a quick rapid fire game with you. What is your favourite motto?

TB: Dig baby, dig.

AG: Your favourite fashion show you ever walked?

TB: I used to love Todd Oldham because we could act crazy, no rules.

AG: Your most memorable fashion moment?

TB: Harper’s Bazaar, Paolo Roversi black and white. That camera you put that black thing over your head and take one at a time—amazing!

AG: Your favourite flavour of ice cream?

TB: Butter Pecan, But Betta.

AG: What trend will you never follow?

TB: Low-rise jeans.

AG: What is your most cherished piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

TB: An Azzedine Alaïa big, thick, Kelly dark green sweater that he gave me 30 years ago.

AG: Who would you love to have dinner with?

TB: I would love to have dinner with Oprah Winfrey.

AG: Who is your idol?

TB: Richard Branson because he is a crazy, crazy businessman!

AG: What is your next big adventure?

TB: My next big adventure has a cape on my back as I fly to all of the Emirates, we’ve done Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, what’s next? Sharjah?

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar Arabia