Tyra Banks returned to the runway at Victoria’s Secret show almost 20 years after her modelling retirement
Tyra Banks returned to the runway for the first time in almost 20 years to walk in her ninth Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Bang Showbiz
BEVERLY HILLS, California − After strutting the red carpet, giving smize after smize for the cameras, “America’s Next Top Model” legend Tyra Banks gave a lesson on how to embody icon energy.
Banks, now 51, began modeling at only 15. Throughout her decadeslong career, Banks has opened the doors for many young Black models and changed the modeling industry with her hit modeling competition show “ANTM,” which celebrates its 10th anniversary this December.
The former Victoria’s Secret Angel turned entrepreneur was honored April 25 at The Daily Front Row’s 9th annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards with the Fashion Icon Award, further cementing her trailblazer status.
But she “never thought I would receive something like this, I mean it,” Banks said onstage, accepting the award from the equally iconic Beverly Johnson, the first Black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue (Banks was the first Black American woman to be featured on the covers of GQ).
Onstage, though, Banks didn’t wax poetic about her career and milestones (Johnson did that for her), but rather − in true “ANTM” judge fashion − she took the mic to inspire and empower the audience to see their potential and their icon status.
“Think about Pharrell, right, Pharrell went from beats to Louis Vuitton; or Rihanna, she went from music to makeup to mama magic; or Zendaya, she went from Disney darling to fashion darling,” Banks said.
“And being an icon does not mean adieu, it means that the world is about to see more of you.”
Before Banks took the stage at the top of the evening, Banks switched into mom mode and kept her son York Banks Asla, 9, company before taking her seat in the front row. When his mom’s name was called, York’s face brightened as he excitedly clapped for the supermodel.
Another family moment of the night came when fellow Victoria’s Secret Angel, Adriana Lima, stepped on the red carpet with her husband, Andre Lemmers, and their children. Lima was awarded the Fashion Comeback of the Year by her close friend and UFC champion, Amanda Nunes.
Lima, who announced her retirement from Victoria’s Secret in 2018, recently made a comeback in last year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show − as did Banks.
Before the star-studded night kicked off, glasses of DAOU Wine and Casamigos tequila were flowing through the Beverly Hills Hotel’s dreamy garden, as Banks, Lima, pop star Chappell Roan, “Emily in Paris” actress Ashley Park, Selma Blair and fashion legend Betsey Johnson walked the red carpet.
More from inside the Fashion LA Awards:
Hailey Bieber gives Justin Bieber a shoutout during speech
Unsurprisingly, Rhode founder Hailey Bieber didn’t make her way down the red carpet, but she still showed up to accept the Beauty Innovator trophy from celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin.
Justin Bieber was not in attendance, but the 28-year-old still thanked him for “supporting this dream of mine from the beginning and for always cheering me on.”
Most recently, Hailey Bieber opened up about suffering from a pair of ovarian cysts in an April 21 post on Instagram. Her health revelation came eight months after Bieber welcomed her first child, a son named Jack.
Selma Blair says designer Betsey Johnson’s clothes make ‘you feel like the main character’
Selma Blair, who revealed in 2018 that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, looked strong and in good spirits at the Fashion LA Awards. In a red carpet interview with People magazine, Blair shared she was “truly in remission” and “doing amazingly well.”
The “Legally Blonde” star attended the awards ceremony to present Betsey Johnson with the Lifetime Achievement Award. In introducing the designer, Blair called Johnson a beacon of “rebellion and self-expression.”
“Betsey was my icon as a child,” Blair said. “Of course, we love Chanel or Cacharel, but Betsey for young people was our couture.”
“No one, and I mean no one, can make getting dressed feel like a party the way Betsey can,” Blair, who donned archival Betsey Johnson on the carpet, continued. “She’s dressed punks, princesses, misfits, Chappell Roan, prom queens and always making it clear that fashion isn’t about fitting in, it’s about standing out, about being seen.”
Lizzo sings ‘happy birthday,’ Chappell Roan gets emotional and Demi Moore joins in via video call at Fashion LA Awards
Throughout the night, more singers, actors and other A-listers honored the makeup artists, stylists and hair magicians who make Hollywood magic happen ahead of their major milestones.
Lizzo presented the Makeup Artist of the Year award to Alexx Mayo, the principal on her glam team and the beauty guru behind some of Mariah Carey’s best. She also took the time to lead a surprise “Happy birthday” sing-along for the beauty professional on his 39th trip around the sun.
“Pink Pony Club” singer Chappell Roan made her Fashion LA Awards debut onstage while presenting Music Stylist of the Year to 26-year-old Genesis Webb. Roan began her speech reflecting on her role in the fashion industry, saying, “I thought that fashion (was) very exclusive, and I felt I could never be a part of that. I didn’t even know what Urban Outfitters was, or whatever, so to know that (Genesis) comes from Oklahoma, I was like, ‘Oh, she gets it.’”
Webb and Roan have collaborated on some of the pop star’s best looks as of late. Onstage, her stylist − already visibly emotional over Roan’s heartfelt speech − said she was “so grateful for Chapell for taking a chance on me.”
Dapper duo Wayman + Micah were introduced by Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph and awarded the Men’s Stylist of the Year trophy (the pair has also dressed Coleman Domingo); Dimitris Giannetos, who’s worked with Kourtney Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan, was named Hairstylist of the Year from Dixie D’Amelio; and Ashley Park presented the Style Curator of the Year to Brad Goreski.
Goreski, who has also styled Kaley Cuoco and Rashida Jones, has most recently worked his magic with Oscar nominee and “The Substance” star Demi Moore.
Moore couldn’t be there in person to support her “co-creator” and “personal fashion icon,” but she was there in spirit − and via video − to celebrate her longtime friend.
“As faith would have it, we’re on two different coasts,” Moore, who was in New York City for the Time100 gala, said in a video message.
“But my heart is with you always, as I truly feel it is with me.”
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