HOW IT ALL STARTED

The first person to call me TyTy was my Aunt Jackie.  I was probably about 3 years old. I can remember Jackie’s warmth, her deep, yet high pitched laugh, her ooey gooey nachos, and her unconditional love. Aunt Jackie wasn’t my mom’s sister, but shoot, she was close enough to be. She was my mama’s BFF.  Since they were 15 years old.

I casually referred to myself as TyTy once publicly and people heard it and started calling me that on Instagram and Twitter. I gotta admit that felt soooo good. So I joined them and now after all these years of just being known as Tyra, TyTy is…well, it’s a ‘thing’. Our thing.

I hear, “What’s up, TyTy?” in airports.

As I walk down the street, “I see you, TyTy” rings in my ears.

At a bodega when I’m deciding Red Vines  or Twizzlers, “TyTy, go with the best one”, confusingly comes from the next aisle.

TyTy is your tell-it-like-it-is BFF who’s got your back. She will take off her earrings for you if she has to. You got relationship problems and can’t stop crying? She will wipe your tears (and snot) with her bare hands if there’s no tissues around. She’s got a lot of common sense but also acts a damn fool. She knows how to look, feel and be fiercer than fierce. And she’s obsessed with bringing you along for the ride.

You have no idea how happy it makes me feel to hear people call me TyTy…Why? Because it brings back Aunt Jackie. Yeah…she’s no longer with us. But when I hear TyTy, it’s like she’s sending down sweet hugs from heaven. Through amazing people like you. Love, Tyra “TyTy” Banks