Over the weekend, Tyra Banks took part in The New York Times’ “Times Talks.” Besides demonstrating to the audience how to do a few of her 275 smiles, Tyra said she wakes up every day to “expand the idea of beauty,” which encompasses trying to change people’s views of what is beautiful. “In the high-fashion world, darker black skin is considered beautiful,” Tyra said. “But on the commercial side, you have girls like myself, Beyoncé, and Halle Berry, with light black skin. I make a point to have beautiful chocolate girls on ‘Top Model’ who are also girls next door.” But this isn’t entirely true. For the most part, black models tend to have lighter skin, whether they appear in advertisements (Beyonce, Selita Ebanks) or walk the runway (Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman). There aren’t many darker black women appearing in magazines these days. For years, Alek Wek represented on the pages of Vogue, on runways, and in ads for Clinique and other brands, but even her presence has dwindled. Tyra is trying her best to shift things, at least on “America’s Next Top Model.” Of the four remaining women in this season’s running, two (Teyona and Aminat) are black. While Tyra can’t change the world, she’s doing what she can through ANTM—even if the show’s winners tend not to make much of a mark on the modeling world after their season ends. [NYMag.com, Cutblog/Twitter]

In this, the 12th cycle of “America’s Next Top Model,” 20-year-old Allison Harvard has stolen our hearts with her creepy goth vibe and giant anime eyes. Why? Because she can barely walk in heels and said during casting, “I have a really big fascination with blood—I just think it’s really pretty.” When Tyra confessed she gets nosebleeds, Allison squawked, “Jealous.” Allison is a familiar “Top Model” archetype—the ugly duckling Tyra hopes to turn into a swan. Let’s take a look back at Allison’s sisters in awkward.

TyTy’s hair was a total “DO” as she left court after testifying against the man on trial for stalking her. [New York City, 4/29/09]

Oh damn, Levi Johnston, Bristol Palin’s ex and baby daddy, is on The Tyra Show right now and he and his family are spillin’ the beans! TyTy, of course, wants to assure everyone that this is a legitimate interview—that Levi and his family are not being paid to appear. Duh, you know they picked Tyra to talk to over Oprah or Barbara Walters because Levi’s sister is probably a big fan. Above, Levi says he’s pretty sure that Sarah Palin knew he and Bristol were gettin’ it on, then assures Tyra that he and Bristol were having safe sex. Well, most of the time. Is it weird that I am oddly attracted to the cute dummy? Another clip, after the jump…

Don’t forget! Tonight at 8 pm EST, I’ll be liveblogging yet another episode of that hot mess masquerade they called “America’s Next Top Model.” I need Tyra to do something crazy, and soon. Or I need Mr. Jay to get bitchy with the girls. Everything has been far too nice so far this season. Oh, and will my beloved Cokey last another week? Let us pray!

Y’all, my DVR messed up and I missed last week’s episode! What did I miss? Oh, nothing? Wait, did I miss makeovers? Please tell me I didn’t miss makeovers! Anyhow, check back to this post at 8pm EST, as I dissect Mr. Jay’s latest hideous ensemble, question Ms. Jay’s sanity, and praise the Goddess Of Fierce aka TyTy.

Hooray! America’s Next Top Model is BACK and more ridiculous than ever. The best part of each season’s first episode is finding out what theme TyTy and the Jays have decided on for that cycle. Last season, the theme was so ridiculous (um, sending the models into this weird chamber, in some sort of weird laboratory/space motif) that she scrapped it by, like, episode three. This season, Tyra decided to go back in time, to the Roman era, as she—“The Goddess of Fierce”—begins her quest for America’s…Next…Top…Model. In the clip above, TyTy’s disciples freak the eff out as she makes her entrance, and one model declares her to be “extra-terrestrial.” From the Planet Fivehead? We couldn’t agree more.

Tune in NEXT WEDNESDAY at 8pm EST, as we begin our weekly “Top Model” liveblogging, with yours truly, and a few other Frisky guest bloggers!

• Tyra Banks is making a “comeback” of sorts: “America’s Next Top Model,” cycle 12, is back on the air tonight. I wonder what over-the-top schtick Ty-Ty will go for this year? [The CW]
• He’s not MY choice for sexiest royal, but whatever…“Esquire” voted Prince Charles, second in line to England’s throne, as one of their “Best Dressed Men” in their April issue. [Daily Mail]
• Jennifer Lopez borrowed $50K worth of bling from Swiss billionaire/diamond aficianado Robert Mouawad for an event at Barney’s…and liked the diamond jewelry so much she kept it.  No hard feelings from the billionaire, though.
• Somewhat inexplicably, Paris Hilton will be the first recipient of The Fragrance Foundation’s “Celebrity of the Year” award in May.  You know, we actually have a bottle of her Fairy Dust perfume and just haven’t gotten around to trying it yet…. [Now Smell This]

The topic on the “Tyra Show” the other day was womanizers. I expected all the male guests to be overly-primped, self-absorbed playas. I was actually surprised by one guest, Ahmed, who described himself as ladies man rather than a womanizer. I started thinking about the real difference between womanizers and ladies men and realized what makes a ladies man different is transparency.

I know there is a bit of a Robert Pattinson backlash occurring right now, which I don’t necessarily mind, as it leaves less competition for when I attempt to score him for three out of the five types on my rebound list. I still might have to fight off Tyra Banks though, by the looks of this clip from when she had Robert on her show on Friday. Honestly, I’m sadly aroused and jealous. While I would never be so lame as to actually ASK him to bite me, I kind of want him too. And he leaves a mark!

Today on “The Tyra Show”, Ty-Ty had on Beyonce/Sasha Fierce and conducted one of the most annoying interviews of all time, filled with puns and inane questions. But Beyonce did perform both “If I Were A Boy” and “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”—which Tyra tried to ruin by dancing along—and was such a good sport when Miss Crazy Lady gave her a belated wedding present. Clip above!

Women in the Western World have waged war against face fuzz because, let’s face it, facial hair on women is not sexy nor flattering, unless it’s a well-groomed brow. That’s why the best job the Bearded Lady could get was at a carnival. But there are some women (and men) who have embraced the female mustache. Whether you like the look or not, you have to admit that these women have a sort of attraction because they buck the beauty norm. Continue reading for women whose mustaches have gotten them noticed.

We’ll be the first to admit that we’re not big fans of Tyra Banks. We watch “America’s Next Top Model” like any other fashion, reality TV-loving girl, but most of the time we’re really annoyed by Tyra’s crazy antics. Today, however, we’re putting a shiny gold star next to Tyra’s name because she arranged for one of our favorite “ANTM” contestants, Isis, to have sex reassignment surgery. I blasted Tyra for using Isis as the “first transgender contestant” on “ANTM,” and then eliminating her for not being comfortable with her body. But at least Tyra is making amends. Of course, the big surprise occurs on “The Tyra Show” airing tomorrow because Tyra is a shrewd businesswoman. [Bossip]

Late last night, while I was up watching TV and craving macaroni and cheese, I caught the world’s most awesome episode of “The Tyra Show” that aired originally on Halloween. Crazy ass Ty-Ty interviewed a ton of “real life vampires” about their blood drinking lifestyle. Most of the guests were your garden variety Dracula wannabes, but my favorite was Sarah, who says she doesn’t crave blood because it’s “cliche and rudimentary.” She says she was born a vampire, but doesn’t like to hang out with other vampires and would rather spend her time with “other sorts.” She also says she is psychic, can go days without eating and just feeds off other peoples’ “energy”, thinks sex is gross, prefers hardcore hip-hop like Too Short to The Cure, and enjoys watching “America’s Next Top Model.” She seems like fun to me. I kind of want to hang out with her. Call me Sarah!

Oh, last night’s episode of “America’s Next Top Model” was just so edgy and fierce! The latest “fashion capital of the world” that Tyra has shipped the remaining models off to? Amsterdam! Their first photo shoot? Posing in the windows of sex shops in the famous Red Light District. Oooh, Ty-Ty you are so political—I mean, obviously this was timed for the week before San Francisco voters go to the polls to decide whether to pass Proposition K, which would decriminalize prostitution! Actually, that’s probably just a coincidence because the most political Tyra ever gets is having the models look sexy why humping a ballot box, but whatevs. Anyway, the free love ambiance of Amsterdam must have gotten to some of the models, because Elina, Marjorie, and Annaleigh totally took a naked bubble bath and, apparently, maybe, shaved each other. Clip above.

Tyra is a diva who likes to pull stunts like a bra burning.  But nothing is as inflammatory as sexuality.  So, now the talk show host is demanding some guests who want to stop being gay.  Say what?! Maybe she’s planning on showing a leopard can’t change it spots by ruining an exotic fur couture coat? Or perhaps she’ll fix ‘em up with her “America’s Next Top Model” gays Mr. and Mrs. Jay? But if there’s anyone crazier than her, it’s a homosexual trying to straighten up. [Feministing]