Tyra's Most Recent Blog Posts

My mind’s always racing and I’m always brainstorming, trying to create new things for you, my fam! I just can’t sit still – from Modelland touring to typeF blogging, and let’s not forget Cycle 18 of America’s Next Top Model airs on February 29th! And of course, I’m juggling the business world with my CEO role and my studying at Har-vard Business School! I've left my comfy home and am back hitting the books (and sleeping dorm-style) for the third year in a row up in Boston.

Needless to say, I've learned a few tricks to stay organized and sane while I'm working for those As. What keeps me focused is keeping a fierce desk! How about a little sneaky-peek of my desk to tell the whole story?

Read More

Fashion Week is a cuh-razy whirl of parties, photo flashes and, of course, fa-fa-fa fashion. Just because you’re not sitting front row with Anna Wintour doesn’t mean you can’t take in the shows your own way! As a runway catwalker from back in the day, I learned that you can get more out of the shows than outfit ideas, aching feet and an acute case of It-bag envy. Here are my takeaways on Fashion Week – from runway trends to makin’ the hallway your catwalk – no matter what city you’re in.

1. Don't stress about not being there in person! The beauty of the fashion world these days is the Internet! Designers are live streaming their shows, editors are Tweeting from their seats, and reviews with photos are up in a hot second! Bloggers are your best friend, because they’re runnin’ around town to grab the fierce stories and photos, just for you. 

Read More

 Like New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that can either be one of the most fab nights of your year or turn out to be totally “meh”. No matter what your status may be – if you’re single or attached, or if February 14th is just another ordinary day to you – Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to take care of yourself and show YOU some lovin’! Whether or not you have a date, make sure to pamper your own fine self with hearts and flowers.

This year it’s time to take back V-Day, turn it into U-Day, and celebrate the most important person there is – YOU! Treat yourself to a date night for one or bring your friends along for a fun night of gabbin’, chillin’, and gigglin’! No balloon bouquets required.

Read More

Durin’ this time of year, in my modeling days, I woulda been struttin’ my stuff and doin’ my thing on the runway, but not anymore! While I’ve been growing my company, I’ve also been hittin’ the books – and studyin’ away at Harvard Business School.

Even though I won’t be catchin’ the shows at Lincoln Center, this supermodel retiree will be keeping tabs on the latest trends (and new model cuties) from my Hah-vard dorm room in between classes and meetings with my study group. And although I no longer have to remember which designer wanted an “Amazon-meets-Lolita-but-no-smiling” stomp and which one requested an “Audrey-Hepburn-in-post-apocalyptic-Paris” stroll, I must confess that I sometimes miss that cuh-razy fashion world.

Lucky for us all, Fashion Week is only a click away. More and more designers are live-streaming shows so you can see them at the same time as the front-row editors and celebs. Talk about one serious upgrade from my time on the runway. You used to have to (*gasp) wait for the newspaper reviews like a pioneer lady. 

But even with all this incredible coverage, I still sometimes have runway flashbacks. I’m not saying I miss getting stuck with pins or trying to walk in those too tall heels or finding out at the last minute that my booty was going to be hanging out of an ultra-ultra-ultra miniskirt (those designers loved them a booty skirt back in the ‘90s). But there was something intoxicating about stepping down a catwalk under brilliant spotlights, workin’ the runway in front of the wall of photographers and then smizing before rushin’ into the chaos of the backstage, where a whole team was waiting to quick-change me into my next look.

What I don’t miss was that, at the end of a month of shows, my hair would be frizzed to death, my skin would be rubbed raw from makeup remover and my feet would have blisters for days!

I’m happy and proud that in this phase of my life, I’ll be rockin’ a Harvard hoodie during the Fashion Week shows, checkin’ the new set of talent on the runway through pictures and blogs, and thinkin’ of all my model gals showin’ off their struts – and smizes! 

Read More

Ok, y’all, is it just me, or has the weather this season been wonky?! This winter just can’t get it together! Up, down, all over the place! Unless you’re livin’ in a tropical climate or you’re one of the lucky ones with warm weather year round, you’ve already put away those mini skirts and sundresses, pulled out the snow boots, and stocked up on gloves, expecting the temperature to hit fuh-reezing by now.

There have definitely been some cold days this year, (but where’s the snow?!) and seeing as it’s only January, we still have weeks and weeks of chilly temps to go! And during this time of year, things can get a wee bit tricky when we’re tryin’ to figure out what to wear. One minute you’re hot thanks to that packed subway commute and the next you’re on the street freezing your booty off!

Read More

Applyin’ to college? Gettin’ ready for day one on the new job? Wanna start your own company? Whether you’re just gettin’ started, or makin’ your way up the career ladder, the first step to your success is to become CEO of your own life! By that I mean, take control of everything you do – from how you present yourself to who you surround yourself with to how you interact with friends and coworkers.

Before I created my own company, I learned a few tips and tricks to get where I am now – from personal to business to social. Work may be the tippy top of the pyramid, but you gotta fit in your life foundation underneath! Follow my ten steps to finding the greatness in you (no power suit required – but sometimes it helps if you dress the part)!

Step 1: Take a Moment 

Read More

 You know what New Year’s means! A fresh start, celebrating all those fam-tastic moments and saying buh-bye to last year’s whoops. Although 2011 was a busy one for me (hello, Modelland, typeF, and America's Next Top Model All-Stars!), I'm ready for a so-fresh, so-clean restart. And if there's one thing I've learned in my 38 years on this fab earth, it's that small changes can make a big difference. Check out my simple tips to switch-up your habits and make 2012 the best year yet!

1. Get your sleep in shape. I'll say it straight out, not everyone can get a blissful eight hours of rest every night,  but the better your sleep is, the happier and healthier you will be. Make your bed a work free zone. That means put those iPads away, leave those computers at the office, and charge those cell phones somewhere else! You want your brain to think z’s and only z’s, so that your bed turns into your “me” zone.

Read More

Girl, I'm sure, if you're like me, you probably have a list of stuff you wanna accomplish this year. But admit it. Sometimes we go a little cuh-razy with this though, right? Tryin’ to lose weight, get all A's in school, become the BOSS at work, create the next Facebook, start your own clothing line, publish that book you've been dreamin’ about… oh, and don’t forget takin’ care of your home life, too! And let me guess. You’re giving yourself four months to get it all done, aren’t you!?

Now I’m definitely not mad at ambition. Love how my fam is so ambitious! But in between conquering the world while starting that fresh and fierce new company, why don’t we all take a second to think about what we can do to better the life (or at least the day!) of someone else.

Read More

 You’ve counted down, blown out your noisemaker, your sequin mini is crumpled on the floor and your email’s blowin’ up with don’t-miss-out offers from every gym in town. In other words, Happy New Year, it’s resolution-makin’ time again! I totally believe in plottin’ out my goals, but let’s get real - sometimes New Year’s resolutions can add way too much heat (and the year hasn’t even started!). We tell ourselves to lose forty pounds or to crunch our waists to fit into that teeny-weeny bikini and for what? To look like a cookie-cutter beauty? Cuh-razy! Believe me, I’d never hate on someone for wantin’ to eat healthier or have a little less jiggle in their step, but I say embrace your personal hotness before wastin’ time on same-ole, same-ole resolutions. Instead fams, this year make fierce-olutions, not resolutions!

Read More

Ever since my book launched in September, I’ve been gabbin’ about Modelland, Modelland, and more Modelland! As my fam from Cali to Miami knows, I’ve been tellin’ the world all about my girl Tookie and her seriously cuh-razy adventures. I’m so inspired and humbled meetin’ all of you, hearin’ about your fave parts, and readin’ all your comments on Twitter and Facebook from those who couldn’t make it.

But the best part of the tour for me was answering questions from YOU!

Some of you may be just starting out in your journey into womanhood, or maybe you are right in the middle of it, while others of you are reinventing yourselves for the next stage. But no matter what stage you’re in, my “advice” is always the same: Never EVER give up on yourself or your dream! This is what Modelland represents for me: the fact that dreams can come true.

Read More