Happy Birthday Tyra Banks! The formidable and ferocious first lady of fashion turns 41 today. We chart her 7 best looks.

Happy Birthday Tyra! The super-model and original Victoria’s Secret Angel we all love and fear in equal measures has had us addicted to America’s Next Top Model and obsessing over catwalk looks for as long as we can remember and everyone totally wanted to be one of the Coyote Ugly girls right? The producer, author, actress and model has been inspiring and entertaining us for years so to celebrate the icon’s birthday we’ve put together seven of our favourite Tyra Banks fashion moments.

DRESSING UP AS MICHELLE OBAMA

One of the most powerful ladies in fashion dresses up as half of the most powerful couple in the world. She looks completely comfortable as the first lady on her shoot for Bazaar.

VICTORIA’S SECRET 2005

As one of the original Angels, Tyra has been a regular on the runway. Showing nearly everything’s she’s got here in lingerie to lust after, you can see why she’s one of the most famous super-models in the world.

VOGUE’S 90TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Tyra turned up to the biggest party of the year in 2010, or possibly the century, in a mask she made herself – out of fishnet stockings – having done her own hair and make-up. We can all relate to having forgotten the party-theme the night before, right?

HER FIRST COVER

Tyra graced the cover of Sports Illustrated for the first time ever in February 1997. Looking fresh and natural, this young girl is about to become one of the most famous models in the world.

NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE

That hair, that figure, that demure expression and being listed next to Oprah Winfrey and Martha Steward in 2008, Tyra is the next self-made brand, a seemingly unstoppable force.

GOSSIP GIRL

Ok, so she was only in one episode but we reckon that Tyra’s appearance in the cult show as a drama queen actress was one of her most beautiful looks ever. Although her character was ever so slightly crazy, which Tyra played perfectly, she was the epitome of elegance throughout.

THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR

If we could dress like that every day and look that cute then we would. A young and very sweet Will Smith falls for Tyra in her 90s get-up during the hit series.

Words: Lily Walker