Model Tyra Banks wants an 'Oprah' empire

NEW YORK, March 7 (UPI) -- Supermodel Tyra Banks said her goal is to have a U.S. talk-show empire like Oprah Winfrey's, Newsweek reported.

"I want to be successful across the board," she said. "I want an empire like Oprah's. I may do it with a little more cleavage, but I plan to get there."

Banks, the creator of the reality TV show "America's Next Top Model" on UPN-TV, said the idea for the show just came to her.

"I was in my kitchen in my underwear looking out the window, and just saw the words 'America's Top Model' in my head," she told Newsweek. "I wanted to do a show where people were striving for a goal, winning something that you've worked hard for."

The model for Victoria's Secret said she endured years of battles with modeling rival Naomi Campbell.

"She did so many hateful things, like getting me thrown off shows because she was more famous," said Banks. "It got so bad that I called my mother and told her I wanted to just give up."