There are claims that Tyra Banks isn’t married because of her reportedly narcissistic attitude, which has been noticeable over the years, especially on “America’s Next Top Model.” I remember coming home from school just to watch the show, where Tyra would talk about how being different is beautiful and how imperfections make you unique. Throughout her career, Tyra has been a trailblazer, achieving many firsts as a Black woman in the modeling industry, and she took pride in those accomplishments. I admire breaking barriers so that there are no more “firsts,” but being the first also means opening doors for others. So, yes, that’s exciting.
If there’s one part of her life that hasn’t been as successful, it’s her love life, and supposedly, her attitude has a lot to do with it. Many of the girls who appeared on “America’s Next Top Model” found out that Tyra was not at all like the supermodel they had idolized. They thought she would be relatable—tall, skinny, teased as a kid, and from the hood. But when they met her, they were really disappointed. Maybe the same thing happened with her lovers; Tyra wasn’t the person they thought she was. Honestly, I’ve never seen such a long list of exes, so I’ll just run through them quickly.
Tyra Banks’ first boyfriend, Craig Taylor, was someone she dated during high school. After graduation, Tyra focused on her career, which unfortunately meant parting ways with her high school sweetheart. Her striking beauty drew attention from many, including Def Jam executive Russell Simmons, although he later dated Kimora Lee instead. One of Tyra’s most notable relationships was with Will Smith. They both starred in the sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” where Tyra portrayed Will’s ex-girlfriend Jackie in season four. Their relationship lasted about a year and garnered considerable public attention.
Certainly! Tyra Banks has been romantically linked to several notable figures over the years. She dated film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor John Singleton from around 1994 to 1996. During this time, there were also rumors of a relationship with Hype Williams, and reports of her dating Rick Fox. Both John Carlo Maraccini and Mark Messier have confirmed their relationships with her. Tyra’s relationship with NBA player Chris Webber, which lasted from 2002 to 2004, was reportedly serious, with discussions of marriage and children. However, they parted ways due to Chris’s infidelity. In 2007, there were speculations about her dating Brian J. White, and in 2012, rumors linked her romantically to her “America’s Next Top Model” colleague Rob Evans. Tyra addressed these rumors, clarifying, “He is like my baby.”
Tyra Banks has had quite a romantic journey. She had a low-key relationship with Seal, though its exact duration remains unclear. There were rumors that Seal’s album “Human Being” was inspired by their time together, but he later denied this. Her longest-known relationship was with Wall Street businessman John Utendahl from 2007 to 2011. Tyra has been vocal about her desire for children without feeling marriage was necessary. She fulfilled this dream with Norwegian photographer Erik Asla, dating from 2013. They welcomed their son in 2016 but parted ways in 2017. Moving on, Tyra started a serious relationship with Canadian businessman Louis Bélanger-Martin in 2018. Despite speculation about an engagement in 2020, Tyra clarified that the ring spotted on her finger was not an engagement ring.
“Those are just the people we know about who’ve been linked with her, showing Tyra has had some pretty high-profile romances. Tyra herself mentioned there were others, like that famous recording artist who slid into her DMs, but she hasn’t spilled the beans on who he is. ‘You know, I dated this really famous recording artist because he messaged me in my DMs.’ Talking about how they handled going out together, Tyra shared, ‘We’d sneak into restaurants quietly, either I’d go in first and he’d follow, or we’d pick places that were off the radar. Even today, you guys still don’t know about this guy I dated. Seriously. He was a DM slider.’
Now, why haven’t her relationships lasted longer than a few months or a couple of years at most? Well, maybe Tyra just isn’t ready to tie the knot. It could also be tough finding someone who’s on her level, especially as a successful Black woman. It’s not easy for someone to handle all that success and the public attention that comes with dating or marrying someone as high-profile as her. But Tyra has mentioned before that she does want to get married. So, what’s the deal? Why haven’t any of her past loves stuck around long enough to put a ring on it?”
Tyra Banks’ personality has been a subject of frequent discussion over the years. While her beauty and instant allure are undeniable, many argue that the character of a partner matters just as much. Criticism has often centered around Tyra’s handling of contestants on “America’s Next Top Model.” Some found certain challenges, like using makeup to portray different ethnicities, to be insensitive. Jay Manuel, the show’s creative director, has spoken about feeling uneasy with these demands, stating, “In such environments, you often have to follow the lead of executive producers, and ultimately, Ken and Tyra were in charge. It was a difficult position for me.”
Tyra really gave Jay a hard time when he came back to work with them. “She wouldn’t talk to me unless the cameras were rolling. Trying to tape a whole season like that was just ridiculous.” Speaking of controversial moments Tyra allowed, in Cycle 4, Kahlen had to pose in a grave right after finding out her friend had passed away. “Please, not this. Dealing with death right now is too much.” And in Cycle 8, Jael had to pose as a corpse just after her friend died from an overdose.
There are also stories from contestants from different seasons who’ve said working with Tyra was a nightmare. Lisa D’Amato, who won Cycle 17, spoke out about the trauma she and other contestants faced. “I felt like I had to warn other girls auditioning for ‘America’s Next Top Model’ about what they might go through. The way they poked at my childhood trauma every day was just too much. It broke my heart.”
Who could forget that infamous moment when Tyra went off on a contestant just because she didn’t break down after being eliminated? “I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you! How dare you! Learn something from this! When you go to bed at night, you lay there and you take responsibility for yourself because nobody’s going to take responsibility for you!”
If she brings that same intensity to her relationships, it’s no wonder someone might not want to stick around. And then there’s her belief that her mom yelling at her as a kid was a sign of love. “When my mother yells at me, it’s because she loves me.” If Tyra thinks yelling is loving communication, maybe her views on relationships play a part in why she’s never been married. What do you think—are her attitude and personality the main reasons, or could there be more to it? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks!
