Smize, it's your birthday!

Rebecca Shore | Dec 3, 2013

Nailing the smize in 1993 :: NBC Universal/Getty Images

Oh, Tyra Banks. What can I say about the woman whose 1997 Swimsuit cover hung in the locker of my middle school crush, and whose name probably ended up somewhere in a jealous diary entry? (I didn't mean those things I said, Tyra.) You pretend-dated Will Smith (or was that something other than acting?) and real-dated Chris Webber. You could do the baby tee with the unfortunate mom jeans thing so it actually looked reasonable, sexy even. And whenever you took a photograph, it was like you were smiling, even if you weren't. Like a smile, but in your eyes. Like . . . a smize. Or is it a SMIZE™?

In the evolution of Tyra, first it was those eyes, that skin, the ever-expanding repertoire of hairstyles that had the whole world watching. When the new millienium rolled in, you, Tyra Banks the model from Inglewood, California became simply Tyra, the global brand that has produced some of the most entertaining television in my generation's lifetime. But let's focus on the pre-syndicated, 1990s supermodel version of you. No one did the 90s better, and isn't it just a nice coincidence that the decade of butterfly clips and Afrocentric fashion is in again? Herewith is a look at some of your best 90s moments, beyond the realm of Swimsuit:

Rose Hartman/WireImage

With fellow Swimsuit model and conehead Georgianna Robertson, 1992 :: Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

Rose Hartman/WireImage

Fresh Prince of Bel Air promo with Alfonso Ribeiro and Will Smith, 1993 :: NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Filming an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, 1993 :: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

With Alfonso Ribeiro and Will Smith On the Fresh Prince set, 1993 :: NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

At an Absolut Vodka party, 1993 :: Ron Galella/WireImage

Walking for Todd Oldham, 1994 :: Rose Hartman/WireImage

Walking for Cynthia Rowley, 1994 :: Catherine McGann/Getty Images

Walking for Isaac Mizrahi, 1994 :: Rose Hartman/WireImage

With John Singleton, 1994 :: Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

At the CFDA Awards, 1995 :: Rose Hartman/WireImage

With Richard Simmons on the Tonight Show, 1995 :: Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

At an event, 1995 :: Time & Life Pictures/DMI/Getty Images

Walking for Ellen Tracy, 1995 :: Jon Levy/AFP/Getty Images

Signing autographs during NY Fashion Week, 1995 :: Catherine McGann/Getty Images

At the ESPYs, 1996 :: Mari Sarai/WireImage

At a CoverGirl event, 1996 :: Marion Curtis/DMI/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

Walking for Victoria's Secret, 1996 :: Evan Agostini/Liaison

With Niki Taylor at a party, 1996 :: Dave Allocca/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

With Seal at the World Music Awards, 1996 :: Dave Benett/Getty Images

At a Swimsuit event, 1997 :: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News/Getty Images

Walking for Victoria's Secret, 1997 :: Rose Hartman/WireImage

With Shaquille O'Neal. 1997 :: V.J. Lovero/SI

Unveiling the Victoria's Secret $3 million bra, 1997 :: Jon Levy/AFP/Getty Images

With Jonathan Taylor Thomas at an AIDS benefit, 1997 :: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

With Paula Abdul at a dance-a-thon benefit, 1997 :: Mirek Towski/DMI/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

Posing for Victoria's Secret, 1998 :: Marion Curtis/DMI/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

With fellow V.S. Angels (from left) Stephanie Seymour, Daniela Pestova, Karen Mulder and Heidi Klum, 1998 :: Marion Curtis/DMI/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images