Models

Tyra Banks' new rap persona was front and center just days after she dove head first into the hip-hop world -- and even without a clean verse on hand ... she's low-key nice.

The supermodel-turned-MC was hosting the Altus Foundation Gala in Houston Saturday, where we're told she expertly bought some stage time for a delayed act by freestyle rapping. And, when we say freestyle, we literally mean off-the-dome flows -- not those perfectly delivered ciphers you hear on radio shows (which are often pre-written).

Here's just a taste of Tyra off the cuff:

I'm 34, aye (A?), but that's okay

'Cause the rest of my body is just touche

I'm 5 foot 9, I look so fine

Yes all my fellas are so divine

As we reported ... Tyra's rap game is being compared to that of Nicki Minaj and Cardi B after releasing her new "Life-Size 2" music video, where she's in full trap mode and dropping bars.

Former "America's Next Top Model" contestant Jael Strauss dedicated her life to helping people struggling with addiction before she lost her battle with cancer earlier this week.

An employee at Solstice Recovery Foundation near Austin, TX, who worked there with Jael, tells TMZ the ex-model was heavily involved in the rehab center's efforts -- volunteering to help folks, especially women, fight drug addiction.

We're told Jael would often spearhead online fundraisers to provide scholarships to those needing treatment. She'd also share her own story of recovery as inspiration for patients.

Jael's kindness was reciprocated this past October shortly after she announced she'd been diagnosed with incurable, stage 4 breast cancer.

The Solstice employee tells us her friends quickly organized the "F**k Cancer-Love Like Jael" fundraiser for her, and raised around $8,000 for her treatment costs.

During the fundraiser, people who donated $20-$50 could get free tattoos that said "F**k Cancer" or "Jael Love." We're told about 20 people got them.

We broke the story ... Jael died in hospice Tuesday, just 2 months after being diagnosed with cancer. We're told she stopped chemotherapy around Halloween.

Just like her ex-boyfriend, Chloe Moretz is down to date models ... hot female models too.

The actress was spotted with Kate Harrison Monday night in Malibu, having a dinner date at sushi hot spot Nobu. The ladies hit up the Soho House afterward for a bit, then left the club smiling and arm in arm ... eventually stopping down the street to suck face.

We're told Chloe and Kate are also sharing a rental pad in L.A., so it's possible this is more than just a holiday season hookup.

Either way, Chloe's clearly moved on from her ex, Brooklyn Beckham ... much like he did back in April. While Chloe and Brooklyn were apparently on and off, he was seen making out with a Playboy model.

Looks like both sides are officially off.

Hailey Bieber is ringing in that wifey life by riding her hubby, Justin, bareback. Okay, get your mind out of the gutter ... 'cause we're talking shirtless piggyback here.

The Biebers were doing a photo shoot Tuesday in the Hollywood Hills, where JB was giving the missus back-to-back (to back) piggyback rides ... most of which were done without a shirt on his back.

We know. You're wondering how many times can we say back?

Anyway, back to the shoot ... there were other poses the recently hitched couple got into ... like that classic model move ... the let's-spoon-each-other-while-standing-up-with-hands-at our-sides.

Love that one ... it's a staple for newlyweds.

Kendall Jenner and Ben Simmons did what lots of couples do when the holiday season rolls around -- hit up an ice skating rink so the guy can watch his GF twirl like she's Kristi Yamaguchi ... but she isn't.

Kendall and Ben hit up Philadelphia's Rothman Institute Ice Rink on Monday -- although Kendall was the only one brave enough to slip on a pair of skates.

We're guessing the 76ers are happy their star point guard kept his feet on dry land -- can't risk a twisted ankle. Then again, neither can Kendall. Runway models don't typically do their best work in casts or ace bandages. Luckily for her ... it looks like she has genuine ice skills.

It's good to see Kendall staying on her feet, unlike that time she nearly face-planted on a bicycle.

Kendall and Ben have been hanging a lot in Philly recently ... they grabbed a bite last week after the Sixers took an embarrassing loss, and checked out some college hoops this weekend.

All this after last month's relationship rebound.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are just like you -- constantly posing for the 'Gram with their friends ... except their friends are 2 Chainz, Donatella Versace and Hailey Bieber.

The Wests were definitely holding court backstage at Versace's pop-up fashion show in NYC Sunday night, and we got this vid of them rubbing elbows and taking pics with everyone. Kim and Hailey -- who was sans her hubby, Justin Bieber -- caught up, while Ye and 2 Chainz chopped it up.

Kanye was in a great mood, not only mugging for cameras backstage, but having a blast sitting front row during the show. When one of the models dropped what looks like an earring ... Ye was Johnny-on-the-spot.

Hailey actually walked the runway, along with Gigi Hadid, Amber Valetta and Emily Ratajkowski.

Mary J. Blige, Bradley Cooper, Tracee Ellis Ross, Blake Lively and Ciara were just a few of the other celebs who showed up.

Point being ... tons of people striking a pose -- on AND off the runway.

Liziane Gutierrez embodies the ol' saying ... find yourself a woman who can do both, because she's showing a lot of fashion range while in Dubai.

The Brazilian model's heating up the sand in the shadow of Dubai's famous Burj Al Arab hotel ... in her own way, of course. Liziane opted for a burka on the beach, at one point, but ya had to know that wouldn't last long. She eventually emerged in a tiny but colorful bikini.

How's that song about cakes by the ocean go?

The lady gets around. You'll recall, the last time we saw Liziane showing off her curves was back in the summer, down in her native Brazil where she busted out this little ensemble ... and made sure her girlfriend had plenty of UV protection.

Game recognizes game, which is why Tommy Hilfiger is declaring Ralph Lauren his MVD -- most valuable designer for 2018 -- but he also names his top models.

We got the fashion legend leaving Michael's in NYC, and with December almost here, we asked who's stood out the most in his industry this year. Ever-humble, he tried to say he wasn't the most qualified to answer. To that we say, poppycock!

Tommy relented and dropped RL's name for one particular reason. Then we moved on to who's tops, as far as models go. He gave us 2 names.

We already knew he was high on one of them, and the other ... well, not exactly a big surprise.

It's who he didn't mention that's likely to get the fashion biz buzzing.

Kendall Jenner is no fairweather girlfriend -- because after the 76ers lost to the putrid Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday ... she stuck by Ben Simmons at a French restaurant in Philly.

Here's the thing -- the Cavs are embarrassingly terrible. J.R. Smith recently quit the team after accusing them of tanking the season for a higher draft pick. It's bad.

But, after the 76ers took the "L" on Friday, Ben and Kendall went to Parc -- a French Bistro -- the very next day.

The comfort meal worked -- because the 76ers bounced back with a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Kendall was at the game -- and was pictured going crazy in the stands as she cheered on her man.

Still, there's an online petition to get Kendall banned from 76ers home games in fear of the "Kardashian Kurse."

We should note ... ever since the two got back together on Nov. 3, the team is 9-4 and overall looking pretty good. They're in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference.

Sooooo ... maybe she should KEEP coming to the games!

Something about Olga Safari's got us going wild ... can't quite put our finger on it, but we'll keep looking into it. Promise.

The "Deal or No Deal" model sure looks like a million bucks wearing this itsy-bitsy bikini at the beach in Santa Monica. If you were a fan of the NBC show ... Olga's gonna be front and center when the show returns on CNBC next month ... as the model carrying case No. 14.

Olga's already our favorite briefcase model. Anyone going the extra mile to turn bikini season into a year-round sport has our undivided attention.

When Olga's not modeling, she's also an aspiring actress who has dabbled in a few commercials ... for Nissan and Ulta Beauty. BTW ... when she auditioned for "Deal or No Deal", producers wondered if she had a weird talent. She does ... and it involves her tongue.

Someone really wants Hailey Baldwin to drop her name and publicly take Justin Bieber's -- a demand they boldly made by tagging her L.A. billboard.

Check it out ... we got pics and video of a man spray painting -- aka vandalizing -- Hailey's PrettyLittleThing billboard Monday night. As we told you, Hailey changed her Instagram handle to @HaileyBieber over the weekend, but that clearly wasn't enough for this guy.

The guy first covered "Baldwin" with white spray paint, then scribbled "Bieber" over that in black paint. We'll give him this ... he's efficient. The entire process only took a few minutes.

The billboard is on Fairfax Avenue ... not far from The Grove. Looks like the tagger had to sneak onto the roof of an art gallery to access the billboard's ladder.

Miguel will soon be sky walking down the aisle ... because we've learned the "Sky Walker" singer just got a marriage license.

Sources confirmed to TMZ ... Miguel and his high school sweetheart, model Nazanin Mandi, went to a Los Angeles courthouse Monday to snag a marriage license.

We're told the couple signed docs and had some friends right there cheering them on with words of encouragement and a big group hug.

Miguel and Nazanin have known each other since he was 18. They went on their first date in 2005, long before the R&B crooner signed his first record deal and Nazanin started walking runways.

The super cute couple has been engaged since 2016, and they've just taken another huge step towards tying the knot.

Like pics of hot chicks on the beach? And also, world class athletes on the beach?

Then you're gonna love ... "Hot Chicks and World Class Athletes Playing Soccer on the Beach!"

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition models Samantha Hoopes and Camille Kostek -- they're here!

Paralympic snowboarding superstar Brenna Huckaby? STRAIGHT FIRE!

Landon Donovan, Rashad Jennings and Chad Ochocinco? Sure!

57-year-old Colombian soccer legend Carlos Valderrama and his legendary hairdo also made an appearance.

It was all part of the 2018 World Futbol Gala -- Celebrity Beach Soccer Match presented by GACP Sports and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in Miami.

Other stars ... Miss USA, tennis legend Genie Bouchard, Casper Smart and the Miami Heat dance team!

Hailey Baldwin is dunzo! Instead, Hailey Bieber is taking her place in the most meaningful way possible ... on social media.

Justin Bieber's wife just changed her Instagram handle to @HaileyBieber, a move Biebs himself put in motion. Our IG sources tell us Justin's team reached out to the platform Friday to ask about updating her account.

We're guessing Hailey's 15.3 million followers -- not to mention his 102 million -- will go berserk over this. The name change comes roughly two months after they got hitched in a super secret ceremony at an NYC courthouse.

She was already wearing the name proudly on a denim jacket Thursday night at an NYC Levi's event.

There were signs Hailey had rebranding on the brain ... because, as we reported, she filed to trademark her new name -- in case she wants to slap it on some merchandise, and also to block anyone else from doing it.

Point is ... she's becoming a true Belieber, in spirit and name.

7:00 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Kim went to bed early last night, because she wasn't feeling well and when family members went to wake her Thursday she was non-responsive. Paramedics pronounced Kim dead at her home.

As for the cause ... we're told she was battling an illness -- either the flu or pneumonia -- over the last few days and was being treated with Saline and vitamins. Authorities are also looking at a recent trip Kim took to Africa, to determine if she contracted a disease.

No illegal drugs were found.

The coroner will perform an autopsy and perform toxicology tests.

5:02 PM PT -- The coroner's van just left Porter's home.

Kim Porter, the model and actress who dated Diddy for 13 years, was found dead Thursday at her L.A. area home ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us they got a call to Porter's Toluca Lake home around noon. Police are still on the scene right now.

According to emergency dispatch audio the call came in as a patient in cardiac arrest.

A source connected to Kim tells us she'd been suffering flu-like symptoms, and possibly pneumonia, for several weeks, but it's still unclear what exactly caused her death. Another source says Kim had contacted her doctor just yesterday complaining she wasn't feeling any better.

Diddy and Kim's relationship spanned more than a decade with several breakups and makeups. They started dating in 1994 and broke up, for the last time, in 2007.

They have 3 children together -- twin girls Jessie James and D'Lila were born in 2006, and she had their son, Christian, in 1998. She also has a son, Quincy Brown, from her previous relationship with Al B. Sure!.

The whole family was last together, in public, supporting Quincy at last month's premiere for his movie, "The Holiday Calendar."

Kim worked as both a model and an actress, and she made appearances on Diddy's show, "I Want to Work for Diddy."

Diddy's rep Cindi Berger tells us, "Sadly, I can confirm the passing of Kim Porter. I ask that you give the families privacy at this time."

Kim was 47.

RIP

Mick Jagger's daughter's ex-boyfriend will not face criminal charges for allegedly beating a man who's dating Suge Knight's alleged son ... TMZ has learned.

Here's how this "only in Hollywood" celeb spawn tale went down. We broke the story ... Georgia May Jagger's then-BF, Norman Theuerkorn, was booked in August for felony battery after allegedly punching the boyfriend of Andrew Knight, who claims he's Suge's kid.

The alleged attack at Blind Dragon in WeHo was so violent Andrew's BF, Darren Young, suffered internal bleeding and eventually needed brain surgery.

Now, the L.A. County D.A. and Theuerkorn's attorney, David Diamond, tell us ... the model will not be charged due to insufficient evidence.

The D.A.'s office says half the witnesses say Theuerkorn swung on Young, but the other half say Young tripped and fell.