When Tyra Banks stepped through the doors of her new flagship ice cream shop in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, she paused. Not just because of the whimsical design, theatrical lighting, or the cheeky neon signs that flirt with customers as they exit. She paused because this wasn’t just the grand opening of a scoop shop – it was the realisation of a dream rooted in a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles.
“For over a decade, I’ve been reimagining what an ice cream shop could be,” she says. “And every time I walk into ours, I still have to pause and take a breath. I can’t believe it’s real.”
This immersive dessert destination, Smize & Dream, is a visual and sensory Banksperience – her own word for the fully immersive, story-led, joy-fuelled universe she’s created, blending old-world charm with modern magic. But its foundation? That’s 100% heart – and her mama’s hustle.
Tyra’s childhood wasn’t picture-perfect, but it was beautiful. “My mama used to dream out loud for just one more bedroom,” she remembers. “She wasn’t wishing for mansions. She just wanted a two-bedroom apartment so we could have a little more space.” Carolyn London, Tyra’s mother, worked three jobs to make that happen. Each new apartment – modest as it was – became a canvas for imagination. “We didn’t have much, but we made it beautiful together,” Tyra says. “She found secondhand treasures, framed her own photography, and we painted the walls ourselves. That belief – that even the simplest space could hold big dreams – stayed with me.”
That spirit of ambition and creativity defined Tyra’s rise from supermodel to media mogul. She broke barriers in the fashion industry as one of the first Black models to appear on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and walked for iconic fashion houses like Chanel and Valentino. But she didn’t stop at runways. Tyra went on to create and host America’s Next Top Model, shaping the modelling industry and mentoring hundreds of aspiring talent. Her daytime talk show, The Tyra Banks Show, earned two Daytime Emmy Awards, while her business ventures and Stanford education cemented her status as a multidimensional force.
That belief is now etched into every arch, scoop and surprise inside Smize & Dream. With design cues that borrow from Baz Luhrmann’s flamboyance and a touch of nostalgic carnival glamour, the store is “old kissing new,” in Tyra’s words.
It’s also a space with serious symbolism. The bright yellow tile that snakes through the black-and-white sunburst floor? That’s not just a design choice – it’s a golden path. “Yellow is my favourite colour,” she says. “It’s joy, possibility and wild ideas. So when you walk into Smize & Dream, you’re not just stepping into my world – you’re stepping closer to your own.”
The shop’s beating heart is the “Slircle” – a circular, two-storey counter-cum-catwalk that transforms ordering ice cream into performance art. Scoopers, or the “Smize Scoop Squad,” aren’t just employees. They’re theatrical hosts, serving up more than dessert – they serve moments.
And the Smize Surprize? That’s Banks brilliance – sometimes tucked under scoops, sometimes crowning them. “In the shop, it’s on top. In the tub, it’s sub,” she grins. “Because in life, sometimes the best stuff is shining bright – and sometimes, it’s buried treasure waiting to be discovered.”
Watching it all unfold, Mama Carolyn is visibly moved. “Seeing Tyra’s dream bloom into something real and knowing it’s rooted in our journey fills me with so much pride,” she says. “It’s emotional. And yes, it’s a dream come true I never knew I had.”
But Tyra is far from finished. With plans for the mysterious “Smize Closet” and a story-sharing installation still under wraps, this is only the beginning. “This brand is built from everything that shaped me. My childhood, my weird ideas, my fashion experience, my mama’s hustle, my heartbreaks and my biggest dreams,” Tyra says. “I didn’t license my name. I gave myself license to imagine without doubting myself.”
Even as she’s conquered fashion, television and academia, Tyra’s newest venture reflects something deeply personal – the joy of creating something magical from scratch. Her ability to balance business with storytelling, and branding with heart, continues to inspire a new generation of dreamers.
And, while Smize & Dream serves ice cream, it also serves something sweeter – a reminder that every big, bold idea can begin in the smallest of spaces – with love, grit and one determined mama.
