Tyra Banks Reveals That She Used to Go by Only Her First Name
Photo by: ABC/Christopher Willard Reading Time: 2 minutes
Dancing with the Stars host Tyra Banks was recently a guest on Sherri Shepherd’s talk show, where she discussed her choice to go by her full name instead of just her first name. As it turns out, she was almost going to be known as just Tyra.
Why Tyra Banks Chose to Go by Her Full Name
As Shepherd pointed out, most people know who you’re talking about if you mention the name Tyra. She asked Banks if she would consider dropping her last name. Banks shared that she actually used to go by just her first name when she first started modeling.
“And then I got my first acting job on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Banks recalled. “And the first couple of episodes, when they flashed my name, to say, you know, ‘Playing Jackie Ames, Tyra.’ And it was T-Y-R-A, really big on the screen. And something felt weird to me, that I was acting and didn’t have a last name.”
So she decided to add her last name back, which prompted people to think she made the name up. But Tyra Banks is her real name. Now Banks is wondering if she should have kept the single name. Shepherd encouraged her to drop her last name again.
SEE ALSO: REMEMBERING TYRA BANKS AS ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’ HOST
Banks Opens Up About Motherhood
When Shepherd asked Banks what motherhood has been like for her, Banks said, “It’s everything.” The supermodel gave birth to her son York in 2016. She said becoming a mom made her understand her own mother better.
“I understand why my mama cussed me out when I would go out and hang out with my friends and it’s midnight and I didn’t call,” she said. “I understand, because this is an extension of you out there that is everything.”
Banks is currently co-hosting Dancing with the Stars with Alfonso Ribeiro. You can catch the show streaming on Disney+ Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
