Tyra Turns Teacher

Since the widely accepted difference between model and supermodel is whether or not the model has their own "brand", Tyra Banks is well placed to be guest lecturing a class on "creating and protecting a personal brand" at Stanford University next May.

News of Banks's foray into education came this weekend and will be the first time that she has lectured at the prestigious institution, reports The Wall Street Journal. Her first assignment for her students will be "Project You: Building and Extending your Personal Brand," for which they will be required to "create a short video introducing both themselves and the vision for a brand, according to the official course description".

The supermodel, who welcomed her first child in January, revealed that she is going to be a tough taskmaster when it comes to taking to the lectern, stating that her teaching style will be fun but firm: "If I see somebody not paying attention, I'm gonna call on them." She also revealed that she wouldn't encourage the use of phones in class, unless it was to "tweet something I've said".

Banks isn't the first famous face to want to impart their knowledge to a new generation. Recent advocates include Angelina Jolie, who announced in May that she had been appointed visiting professor in practice at the London School of Economics on a new MSc course on women, peace and security, the first of its kind in the world. Her work commences next month.