Vault: Tyra Banks Joins The Show

Summary

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The Bert Show – “Vault: Tyra Banks Joins The Show”

Podcast by Pionaire Podcasting
Date: December 2, 2025

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Episode Theme / Purpose

In this classic episode, The Bert Show welcomes legendary supermodel and television host Tyra Banks for a candid interview. The conversation explores Tyra’s groundbreaking modeling career, her experience with self-image and industry critiques, advice for young models, and details about her then-new show, America’s Next Top Model. Tyra’s trademark humor and authenticity shine throughout, as she discusses both the glamour and the realities of the modeling world.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tyra’s Pioneering Career & Magazine Covers

• Host highlights Tyra’s breakthrough as the first African American woman to grace the covers of GQ, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and Victoria’s Secret catalog.
  • Notable moment:
    • Host: “Well, first, first African American woman to grace the covers of GQ magazine, Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and Victoria's Secret catalog. Yeah. Good for Tyra Banks.” (01:46)
    • Co-host/Commentator: “That's a huge accomplishment. Congratulations.” (01:58)
• Tyra reflects on the impact of being on the Sports Illustrated cover:
  • Tyra Banks: "Yeah, I think it really did help a lot. I really think it made me, you know, everybody in America say, oh, who's that girl?" (02:13)

2. Life in the Spotlight & Photo Shoots

• Tyra shares the reality of glamorous photo shoot locations:
  • Tyra Banks: “Anywhere with sand and water? I know that sounds crazy, but I hate shooting on a beach... sand just gets all in weird places. You have to change with a towel wrapped around you in front of everybody...” (02:59)
• The group laughs about being recognized on newsstands and the mythical “spritzing guy” at shoots.
  • Co-host: “I think that's Tyra Banks nothing. She's walked past my newsstand eight times.” (02:43)

3. Beauty Routines, Self-Image & Perception

• Tyra busts myths about “supermodel” regimens:
  • Tyra Banks: “I don't really do any of that stuff like that prep stuff... But I do sit in a hair and makeup chair for three and a half hours... I don't get facials and all that stuff. I don't do that.” (03:58–04:08)
• When asked if she feels beautiful without makeup:
  • Tyra Banks: “When I look in the mirror, I look at myself as a palette... I don't look at myself when I'm all natural and say, ooh, girl, you fine. I don't do that.” (04:18)

4. Advice to Aspiring Models

• Tyra encourages education and perseverance:
  • Tyra Banks: “Get your education first. I didn't drop out of school... The advice I tell girls is to... it's not just about beautiful... they're looking for that extra special something... they're also looking for a personality.” (04:42–05:25)

5. Facing Industry Rejection & Racism

• Tyra recounts painful rejection lines she endured:
  • Tyra Banks: “I heard that we already have enough black girls. We have somebody that looks just like you. Your lips are too big, your nose is too soft...” (05:29)
• She shares her mother’s wisdom about separating self-worth and industry standards:
  • Tyra Banks: “My mom taught me to look at myself as a product and to separate myself from the product... If people aren't wanting that product, it doesn't mean they don't want you... I see it as a separate entity from me.” (05:59)

6. Talking About Flaws & Media Perfection

• On the most airbrushed part of her body:
  • Tyra Banks: “Dimples on my booty... Cellulite on the backs of the thighs. Dark circles underneath my eyes. Yeah, Those are my main ones.” (06:55)
• Reaction to photo retouching:
  • Tyra Banks: “Sometimes I'm like, oh, my God. I can't believe they didn't retouch them.” (07:11)

7. Launching America's Next Top Model

• Tyra introduces her new TV show:
  • Tyra Banks: “I created this show, America's Next Top Model... We follow them 24/7, similar to the show ‘The Real World’... and after eight weeks, the best girl is left standing, and she's starving.” (07:20)
• Authenticity of the show:
  • Tyra Banks: “I tried to keep this as close to the true modeling world as possible. And the drama came with the girls' personalities and cat fighting and things like that. But in terms of the modeling world, it's really legitimate and true.” (07:55)

8. Tyra’s Reality TV Favorites & Down-To-Earth Side

• Tyra professes love for “The Real World”:
  • Tyra Banks: “I love that show... I like Las Vegas and I liked Seattle. No, I liked New York.” (08:21–08:25)
  • Laughs when told the co-host was on Seattle’s season, remembering a notorious scene:
    • Tyra Banks: “Which one was Seattle? Was that when that guy bitch slapped that girl in the car? Yeah, I like that one too.” (08:33–08:37)
• Co-host fangirls:
  • Interviewer/Co-host: “It's so wonderful to hear that you have so much personality and you're so well spoken and just incredible. You're a great role model.” (08:55)
  • Tyra modestly thanks her.

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Memorable Quotes

• On magazine covers:
  “I think it really did help a lot. I really think it made me, you know, everybody in America say, oh, who's that girl?”
  — Tyra Banks (02:13)

• On beach photo shoots:
  “I hate shooting on a beach... the sand just gets all in weird places. You have to change with a towel wrapped around you in front of everybody...”
  — Tyra Banks (02:59)

• On beauty routines:
  “I don't really do any of that stuff like that prep stuff... But I do sit in a hair and makeup chair for three and a half hours.”
  — Tyra Banks (03:58)

• On self-image:
  “I look at myself as a palette... I know I have the capability to be transformed into anything, but I don't... say, ooh, girl, you fine. I don't do that.”
  — Tyra Banks (04:18)

• On industry rejection:
  “I heard that we already have enough black girls. We have somebody that looks just like you. Your lips are too big, your nose is too soft. You know, all kind of stuff.”
  — Tyra Banks (05:29)

• On dealing with criticism:
  “My mom taught me to look at myself as a product and to separate myself from the product... If people aren't wanting that product, it doesn't mean they don't want you...”
  — Tyra Banks (05:59)

• On what gets airbrushed:
  “Dimples on my booty... Cellulite on the backs of the thighs. Dark circles under my eyes. Those are my main ones.”
  — Tyra Banks (06:55)

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Notable Segments with Timestamps

• Tyra's groundbreaking firsts: 01:36–02:13
• Realities of photo shoots and fame: 02:27–03:23
• Self-care and beauty myths: 03:58–04:18
• Advice for aspiring models: 04:32–05:25
• Experiences of bias and handling rejection: 05:25–06:43
• Talking about media and body image: 06:55–07:17
• America’s Next Top Model explained: 07:20–07:55
• Tyra’s reality TV favorites and relatability: 08:11–09:01

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Episode Tone and Style

The episode is lighthearted, direct, and full of the authentic warmth characteristic of The Bert Show. Tyra Banks is candid, witty, and vulnerable, balancing humor (“Dimples on my booty!”) with heartfelt advice and honest commentary about the tough realities of fashion and self-confidence.

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Takeaways

• Tyra Banks’ legacy isn’t just about covers and catwalks—she’s honest about her struggles, resilient in the face of rejection, and passionate about representing real, multifaceted women.
• Her advice to young models is practical, focusing on education, individuality, and emotional resilience.
• America’s Next Top Model was launched with the goal of showcasing the real world of modeling, mixing drama and mentorship under Tyra’s guidance.
• Tyra’s down-to-earth attitude and relatability—she loves reality TV, deals with insecurities, and doesn’t buy her own hype—make her the role model the hosts praise her for.

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Transcript

[Host]

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[Tyra Banks]

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[Tyra Banks]

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[Interviewer/Co-host]

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[Host]

Banks joining us on the Burt Show. How are you this morning?

[Tyra Banks]

I'm just great.

[Host]

You know, in reading over your bio yesterday, I didn't realize how much you really kind of pioneered modeling.

[Tyra Banks]

Oh God, that sounds scary.

[Host]

Well, first, first African American woman to grace the covers of GQ magazine, Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and Victoria's Secret catalog. Yeah. Good for Tyra Banks.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Yes. That's a huge accomplishment. Congratulations.

[Tyra Banks]

Thank you.

[Host]

Is gracing the COVID of the Sports Illustrated magazine, like, is that the crown jewel, do you think, in your career? Cause I mean, you constantly hear about the buzz of being on the COVID of that Magazine.

[Tyra Banks]

Yeah, I think it really did help a lot. I really think it made me, you know, everybody in America say, oh, who's that girl?

[Co-host/Commentator]

You know, I'm just kind of curious. When you're on the COVID of Sports Illustrated or the many covers, how many copies do you buy when you go.

[Tyra Banks]

Out to get it, you know, what you do is you ask for them to send you the boxes and boxes of them.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Okay.

[Tyra Banks]

Okay.

[Host]

All right. That's smart. That must be so cool. Just like walking down the streets in New York and, you know, you're trying not to look at yourself on a magazine, but, damn, there I am.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Yeah, exactly.

[Host]

That's gotta be the coolest thing.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I think that's Tyra Banks nothing. She's walked past my newsstand eight times.

[Host]

For every, you know, photo shoot that you got to do on, like, these exotic locations. Once you became Tyra Banks, where are some of the places that you had to shoot that you're like, I gotta get that hell out of here?

[Tyra Banks]

Anywhere with sand and water? I know that sounds crazy, but I hate shooting on a beach. Really many beaches. As I've shot on, the sand just gets all in weird places. You have to change with a towel wrapped around you in front of everybody, taking pictures of you. Like all these tourists and stuff. Taking pictures while you change. The sun is all bright and killing my eyes, and I have to look into the sun. I hate it.

[Host]

Whenever they show the Sports Illustrated shoot on espn, when they show the video, there's always one lucky, smiling son of ass obait that has the water that has to spritz you guys down. That's his job. The spritzing guy.

[Tyra Banks]

What it looks like he's gay, though. He ain't cute on the gay spritzer.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

How much upkeep does it take? What's your daily regime like? What do you do that requires you to look the way you look and be the way you are? Because we think you're born that way. And we know you are. You're gorgeous. But there's gotta be, like, exfoliating, all that stuff that we wouldn't do on a normal basis to keep.

[Tyra Banks]

Well, I don't really do any of that stuff like that Prep stuff I don't really do. But I do sit in a hair and makeup chair for three and a half hours.

[Host]

I've always wanted to.

[Tyra Banks]

I don't get facials and all that stuff. I don't do that.

[Host]

Do you supermodel?

[Interviewer/Co-host]

Like, do you.

[Host]

Do you think you're beautiful? Like, when you look at yourself in the mirror without the makeup on and the hair and everything all done.

[Tyra Banks]

Do you go without it?

[Host]

Yeah, without it.

[Tyra Banks]

When I look in the mirror, I look at myself as a palette. I look at myself as saying, you know, I know I have the capability to be transformed into anything, but I don't look at myself when I'm all natural and say, ooh, girl, you fine. I don't do that.

[Host]

What advice do you give young girls that are getting into modeling? Because for every Tyra banks, there are 5,000 little girls that think it's probably cool to drop out of school and pursue modeling.

[Tyra Banks]

Yeah, I tell them, get your education first. I didn't drop out of school. I had a friend that dropped out and she didn't really have much success. I did finish high school and I applied to four colleges and got into every single one of them.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

Good for you.

[Tyra Banks]

But I was discovered and I didn't go to college. I went to Paris instead. But you know, the advice I tell girls is to. That it's not just about beautiful. You know, that you might be the prettiest girl in school or college or whatever it may be. And then you go into a modeling agency and you get your feelings hurt because there's so many beautiful girls. But they're looking for that extra special something. They're looking for somebody that photographs spectacularly, and they're also looking for a personality. And just because you're beautiful doesn't mean that you photograph great. And just because you're not gorgeous doesn't mean that you're won't take a good picture.

[Host]

What were some of the rejection lines that Tyra Banks heard before you made it?

[Tyra Banks]

I heard that we already have enough black girls. We have somebody that looks just like you. Your lips are too big, your nose is too soft. You know, all kind of stuff.

[Co-host/Commentator]

In a society where beauty for any woman is apparently priority on everybody's mind, how do you detach yourself from those criticisms and not let it get you down? Because that's gotta be rough. Where everywhere you go, somebody is pinpointing every single little flaw that they can that, you know, is seemingly ridiculous.

[Tyra Banks]

Yeah, that's interesting you say that because I talk to girls and I talk to girls on my show about that. That this industry, you know, you can come into it with the highest self esteem, but it can slowly break you down, you know, with people pointing out flaws that you didn't even know that you had. And who's to say it's a flaw? But my mom taught me to look at myself as a product and to separate myself from the product, you know, so you can, like, buff the product. You know, you can wash your face. You know, you can brush your teeth and floss and maybe get your teeth bleached or something. But, you know, your product is whatever it is. And if people aren't wanting that product, it doesn't mean they don't want you. It just means, you know, that that product is not really hot right now, and it's time to move on to something else, as opposed to saying, they don't want me. They don't want me. I don't see it as me. I see it as a separate entity from me.

[Host]

We're going to talk to tyra about her new television show in just one second. I have to ask you this question, though. What flaw do you have on your body that is airbrushed the most?

[Tyra Banks]

Dimples on my booty.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

Booty dimples.

[Tyra Banks]

Cellulite on the backs of the thighs. Dark circles underneath my eyes. Yeah, Those are my main ones.

[Host]

So are there times where you're looking at pictures of you going, oh, my God, I can't believe they can hide that?

[Tyra Banks]

No. Sometimes I'm like, oh, my God. I can't believe they didn't retouch them.

[Host]

Tell us about the new television show, because it has to do with all this stuff.

[Tyra Banks]

Yeah. I created this show, America's next top model. It's a dramalogy. We follow them 24 7, similar to the show the real world on mtv, but there's, you know, of course, an element of modeling, and I kind of guide them through this whole crazy modeling world. And, you know, after eight weeks, the best girl is left standing, and she's starving.

[Host]

This is the kind of thing where a girl gets eliminated every week.

[Tyra Banks]

Yeah, every week a girl does get eliminated.

[Host]

And this has been taped already, I'm guessing.

[Tyra Banks]

Yeah, it's been taped. We already have our winner.

[Host]

And did a lot of the issues that come up in the modeling world Come up during the taping of this series?

[Tyra Banks]

I think most of the issues in the modeling world, I tried to keep this as close to the true modeling world as possible. And the drama came with the girls personalities and cat fighting and things like that. But in terms of the modeling world, it's really legitimate and true.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

Tara, I got a question for you. I'm a little starstruck right now. Just letting you know, do you actually someone like yourself, Like, a big, successful model, do you actually watch the real world?

[Tyra Banks]

I love that show.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

Do you?

[Interviewer/Co-host]

So what's Your favorite season.

[Tyra Banks]

I like Las Vegas and I liked Seattle. No, I liked New York.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

Oh, you didn't like Seattle?

[Tyra Banks]

Which one was Seattle? Was that when that guy bitch slapped that girl in the car?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Tyra Banks]

Yeah, I like that one too. That was a good one.

[Host]

See, Lindsey's asking. Cause she was on that show.

[Tyra Banks]

Oh, you were? Yeah.

[Host]

Sorry.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

That's right. It's like you never. I mean, well, use the real.

[Co-host/Commentator]

I mean, yeah. If you're starstruck, use a Real World card. Absolutely.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

I mean, it's just. It's cool because you. You compared your show and I just think you are. I think you're the most gorgeous model out there.

[Tyra Banks]

Thank you.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

And it's so wonderful to hear that you have so much personality and you're so well spoken and just incredible. You're a great role model.

[T-Mobile Representative]

So.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

But it's also. It's funny to think that someone as cool as yourself would watch, you know, a show that. Yeah, because we think that nobody listens to the radio show either.

[Host]

Well, we've got the ratings to prove that.

[Interviewer/Co-host]

Yeah. So it's cool to find that, you know, one of your role models does.

[Tyra Banks]

Oh, hell yeah. I watch the real world.

[Host]

Tyra Banks.

[Tyra Banks]

The name of the show, America's Next Top Model that comes on on Tuesday at 9 o', clock, 8 Central and UPN.

[Host]

We will be sure on Tuesday to remind people to watch it.

[Tyra Banks]

Okay, great. Thank you.

[Host]

Thanks a lot, Tyra. Bye now.

[Tyra Banks]

Bye.

[Host]

See ya. Boy, she seemed cool. Yeah, she's really cool.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Yeah.

[Host]

And you talk about a great role model for your kids.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Absolutely. And I think you know the show, hopefully, like she said, if it's so close to the modeling world, that'll be good for young kids to watch and see what you know, they really are getting into.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

The fruit show.

[Tyra Banks]

Dashing through the store, Dave's looking for a gift. One you can't ignore. But not the socks he picked. I know, I'm putting them back. Hey, Dave, here's a tip. Put scratchers on your list. Oh, scratchers.

[Host]

Good idea.

[Tyra Banks]

It's an easy shopping trip. We're glad we could assist. Thanks, random singing people. So be like Dave, it's holiday. And give the gift of play. Scratchers from the California lottery. A little play can make your day.

[Host]

Please play responsibly.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

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[Host]

Whoa.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

So is Saldana.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Hey, can you wrap these, please?

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

Wow. IPhone 17s.

[T-Mobile Representative]

You splurged at T Mobile. You can get four iPhone 17s on them. The new Center Stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. It's the perfect gift for everyone.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

I'm the worst. I only got my mom a robe.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Well, it's better than socks.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

So I have to trade in my old phone, right?

[T-Mobile Representative]

No AT T Mobile there's no trade ins needed when you switch. Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

Incredible.

[T-Mobile Representative]

In fact, wrap up my old phone too for my Aunt Rosa.

[Co-host/Commentator]

Forget that.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Aunt Liz will be jealous.

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

Sounds like my family drama.

[Tyra Banks]

Oh, I got it.

[T-Mobile Representative]

I'll give it to my abuela. I'll take reindeer paper with hey, where are you going?

[Gift Wrapper/Shopper]

To T Mobile. The holidays are better. AT T Mobile get four iPhone 17s on us. No trade in needed when you switch plus four lines for just 25 bucks. Align and now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 month legal credits and four eligible board inside essentials for well qualified customers. Got our pay plus taxes, fees and 35 device connection charge credit sending balance due if you pay off earlier, cancel contact US Finance Agreement 256 gigabytes 830 required.

[Tyra Banks]

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