Can Tyra Banks Top Oprah Winfrey?

August 27, 8:16 AMAfrican American Entertainment ExaminerMichael Langston Moore

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    Can Tyra Banks Beat Oprah at her Own Game?

A few months back, Tyra Banks sat and had a chat with Oprah on her talk show.  On the set, they exchanged thoughts regarding domestic violence in the wake of the Rihanna/Chris Brown news.

What wasn't said may have been more powerful, however--it's quite possible that a passing of the torch may have transpired.  Last year, reports came that Oprah had developed a new cable channel, The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), with Discovery Communications.  Reports and rumors were soon generated that Winfrey would not renew her contract for her syndicated talk show, which expires in the fall of 2011.

Regardless of what happens in the future, Tyra Banks is the "It" woman of the present.  And at the pace that she is going, she just might become the next "Oprah." 

And that's not due to Tyra's skin color, gender, or the uniqueness of her first name.  No, it's due to her sheer determination and will to rapidly become a fixture in the entertainment industry.

Tyra is well known as a supermodel, but at age 35, she is already having a massive impact across the country and world.  Her syndicated talk show, "The Tyra Banks Show," premiered in 2005, and is currently enjoying its fifth season of success--a show in which Banks won an Emmy award.  Her creation of The CW's "America's Next Top Model" is well documented, as the series has enjoyed twelve cycles on television, and recently just crowned contestant Teyona Anderson the winner over runner-up Allison Harvard.

Tyra also co-created the series "True Beauty" for ABC with friend Ashton Kutcher.  The reality show focused on finding best person who was the most beautiful--inside and out. 

More impressive than her career successes is Tyra's impact on her demographic.  Similar to how Oprah can relate to middle aged housewives across America, Tyra's goal is to reach out to young girls.  On her talk show, she has routinely had topics ranging from teenage domestic abuse to bullying, pregnancy, skin bleaching, and even prostitution.  It's evident that Tyra's new aim is to be a role model, as best she can, rather than a runway model.

Banks also has the ability to personalize herself to her audience, and make them feel connected with someone whom they will almost never meet in person.  Tyra has had shows discussing her weaves, breasts, and even cellulite.  She has openly talked about being emotionally abused in past relationships, and she uses her personal experiences to relate to her guests and viewers.  And though not a licensed psychiatrist, Tyra does a good job playing one on television; the advice that she gives her guests is wise beyond her years. 

It will be interesting to see how Banks' career progresses through over the years.  More interested in producing than acting, and more interested in helping others rather than herself, Banks is poised to have a lasting impact in the entertainment world.  If she can maintain her audience, with teenage girls growing up with her over the next few decades, it very possible that Banks can--while not necessarily top Oprah--become very "Oprah-esque."

When it's all said and done, Tyra's career will be remembered more for what she did post-modeling than for her struts down the catwalk.

Originally written by Michael Langston Moore at the Boston TV Examiner