A supermodel smile.

We never thought we’d see the day when we’d come face to face with supermodel Tyra Banks. After all, it’s not every day you get to meet someone who has been repeatedly ranked as one of the world’s most influential people by Time magazine. The media personality is also the creator and host of the popular reality television show America’s Next Top Model (ANTM).

In Asia and proud of it.

In town to promote Asia’s Next Top Model, the latest adaptation of the 38-year-old’s successful franchise, we had a chance to get up close and personal with the California-born celebrity – without getting starstruck.

And here’s how we did it.

1. Remember – Girls just want to have fun

And flash your megawatt smile while you're at it.

There is no reason to be intimidated by tall girls. Tyra Banks may be 1.78m tall, but her fun-loving personality is infectious. Besides spoofing herself in movies like 2008’s Tropic Thunder (where she interviewed Ben Stiller) and 2009’s Hannah Montana: The Movie (where she got into a catfight with Miley Cyrus), she also loves having fun in theme parks. In fact, her inspiration for creating ANTM came from the backstage tours she went on as a kid.

2. Remember – No one becomes famous overnight

This takes hard work.

Contrary to popular belief, celebrities have to work hard to achieve success. Some 23 years ago, Tyra Banks started modeling while attending school in Los Angeles. The 15-year-old girl was rejected by six modeling agencies before she was signed on by Elite Model Management. For the next decade, she would go on to be featured in campaigns for brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent and Ralph Lauren. The supermodel’s confidence and charisma is a result of years of persistence. And that’s a quality we should be inspired, and not be awed by.

3. Remember – A philanthropist can’t be a diva

It's about empowerment.

Tyra Banks spearheaded the TZONE programme in 1999 for a cause she believed in. She wanted to inspire girls to believe in themselves and to take control of their lives. When we asked her about the programme, we could feel her sincerity and passion in the cause. And how can you not adore a girl with such noble beliefs?

Hear what advice Tyra Banks has for her fans in the region – she also thanks her fans in Mandarin and Malay!