The 49-year-old model has branched out into various entertainment roles since her stint with VS, dabbling in acting, hosting, producing, and writing. Debuting on screen in the popular 1993 sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," Banks went on to appear in several projects, including "Life-Size" and "Coyote Ugly." The credit for creating "America's Next Top Model," one of the longest-running reality-TV series, also goes to Banks. Drawing inspiration from her real-life modeling experience, Banks wrote a YA novel titled "Modelland" in 2010.
Banks expressed her desire to see Victoria's Secret continue its efforts to diversify its models in a January 2021 Instagram. "First is hard. First is lonely. But first is necessary," Banks shared in the post. "First is crucial so that a door can be opened for others to fit through. Within a 10 year span starting in 1995, I was the first Black @VictoriasSecret contract model ever. The first Black Victoria's Secret cover model. The first Black VS model to do so many other groundbreaking things with the brand — as well as other brands."
She continued: "But after a first, must come a flow of more. A flow of different. A flow of unique. A flow so strong, a flow of so many that we LOSE COUNT. I retired from the runway 16 years ago — and I'm proud that in my lifetime, I'm witnessing a beauty revolution. To the new collective of badass ROLE models, I may have cracked that door open, but y'all are charging through. Keep on keepin' on until we all LOSE COUNT of how many are breaking through behind you."
