Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart: Two Swimsuit Cover Stars Who Built Business Empires

Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart

Tyra Banks became the first Black woman to appear alone on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1997. Twenty-six years later, Martha Stewart became the oldest woman ever to land that same cover, at age 81. That surprising link is just one of the things these two powerhouse women share.

Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart both turned their names into brands, built TV empires, and kept reinventing themselves. They have no business partnership on record. This article compares their lives, careers, and where each stands in 2026.

Quick Facts

Tyra Banks: From Model to Mogul

Early Life and Education

Tyra Lynne Banks grew up in Los Angeles. Her mother was a medical photographer who later managed her career. Tyra was teased as a child for being tall and thin. She attended Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girls Catholic school, and began modeling at 15. She was accepted to college but chose to pursue modeling in Paris.

Career Timeline

• 1991: Moved to Paris and booked 25 runway shows in her first season.
• 1995: Made her acting debut in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and starred in Higher Learning.
• 1997: Became the first Black woman to appear alone on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover.
• 1997: Became one of the first Black models on the cover of the Victoria’s Secret catalog.
• 2000: Starred in Disney’s Life-Size with Lindsay Lohan.
• 2003: Created and hosted America’s Next Top Model.
• 2005 to 2010: Hosted The Tyra Banks Show, which won Daytime Emmys.
• 2012: Completed an executive program at Harvard Business School.
• 2018: Returned in Life-Size 2.
• 2020 to 2022: Hosted Dancing with the Stars.
• 2023: Launched SMiZE & Dream ice cream.
• 2026: Teased new Life-Size announcements.

Tyra Today

Tyra runs SMiZE & Dream, her ice cream brand, and remains a pop culture icon thanks to America’s Next Top Model. The show has drawn renewed attention in recent years, including tough looks back at some of its old episodes.

Martha Stewart: The Lifestyle Queen

Early Life and Education

Martha Helen Kostyra grew up in Nutley, New Jersey, in a Polish-American family with six children. She learned cooking from her mother and gardening from her father. She modeled to pay her way through Barnard College in New York, where she studied history and architectural history, graduating in 1964.

Career Timeline

• 1960s: Worked as a model and then a stockbroker on Wall Street.
• 1970s: Started a catering business from her home in Westport, Connecticut.
• 1982: Published her first book, Entertaining.
• 1990: Launched Martha Stewart Living magazine.
• 1999: Took Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia public, becoming a billionaire on paper for a short time.
• 2004: Was convicted of obstruction and lying to investigators in a stock-sale case and served five months in prison.
• 2005: Returned with a daytime talk show.
• 2016: Launched Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party with Snoop Dogg.
• 2023: Became the oldest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model at 81.
• 2024: Netflix released the documentary Martha.
• 2026: Released a new book in May, co-founded the AI home platform Hint, and launched a Netflix series, Martha Cooks, and a podcast.

Martha Today

At 85, Martha shows no signs of slowing down. Her net worth is estimated around $400 million. She has deals with brands like Skechers, Amazon, and Wayfair, and in 2026 she appeared with Snoop Dogg at the Winter Olympics in Italy, joking that she was looking for her “Italian prince.”

The Sports Illustrated Link

The most surprising tie between Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart is the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Both covers broke barriers and sparked big conversations. Tyra’s showed that Black women belonged on top fashion covers. Martha’s showed that confidence doesn’t fade with age.

Building Brands on TV

Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart both used TV to turn their names into brands.

Tyra’s America’s Next Top Model ran for 24 cycles and aired in more than 100 countries. Her catchphrases, like “smize,” or smiling with your eyes, became part of pop culture.

Martha’s TV shows taught millions how to cook, garden, and decorate. Her phrase “It’s a good thing” became famous, and her friendship with Snoop Dogg introduced her to younger fans.

Comebacks and Criticism

Both women have faced criticism and bounced back.

Martha’s 2004 conviction could have ended her career. Instead, she came back stronger with new shows and products.

Tyra has faced criticism for moments on America’s Next Top Model that look harsh today. She has said she regrets some of those choices and has spoken about learning from them.

Why People Search for Them Together

Searches for Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart often come from fans interested in women who built media empires. Both are known for confidence, reinvention, and business smarts. The Sports Illustrated covers make Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart a natural pairing.

Lessons From Their Paths

1. Turn your name into a brand. Both built businesses around their personal style.
2. Keep reinventing. Martha went from model to stockbroker to caterer to media mogul. Tyra went from model to host to entrepreneur.
3. Bounce back. Martha’s comeback after prison shows the power of resilience.
4. Break barriers. Both women made history on the same famous magazine cover.

Signature Phrases

Both women gave pop culture memorable sayings. Tyra made “smize” famous and coined lines like “We were all rooting for you!” Martha’s “It’s a good thing” became her trademark. Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart know how to create catchphrases that stick.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart both encourage women to build their own businesses. Tyra has taught courses on personal branding and spoken at Stanford’s business school. Martha has written books on business, including The Martha Rules, which shares her lessons for starting and growing a company.

Life Beyond Work

Tyra has a son, York, born in 2016, and has spoken about how becoming a mom changed her goals. Martha has a daughter, Alexis, from her marriage to Andrew Stewart, and two grandchildren. Martha spends much of her time at her farm in Bedford, New York, where she raises animals and grows much of her own food. Tyra splits her time between Los Angeles and travel for her businesses. Both women stay close to family while keeping busy schedules.

Final Thoughts

Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart came from different generations but share a drive to build and reinvent. Tyra broke barriers as a model and created one of TV’s biggest reality shows. Martha built a lifestyle empire, survived a prison sentence, and made history at 81.

In 2026, Tyra teased new Life-Size plans and kept growing her ice cream brand, while Martha launched a new book, a Netflix series, and an AI company at 85.

Key Takeaways

• Tyra Banks was born December 4, 1973, in California. Martha Stewart was born August 3, 1941, in New Jersey.
• There’s no business partnership between Tyra Banks and Martha Stewart, but both made Sports Illustrated Swimsuit history.
• Tyra was the first Black woman alone on the Swimsuit cover in 1997. Martha became the oldest cover model at 81 in 2023.
• Tyra attended Immaculate Heart High School and later a Harvard Business School program. Martha graduated from Barnard College in 1964.
• Tyra created America’s Next Top Model. Martha built Martha Stewart Living.
• Martha served five months in prison in 2004 and 2005 and made a strong comeback.
• In 2026, Martha launched a book, a Netflix series, and the Hint AI platform, while Tyra teased new Life-Size plans.