At the age of 21, most young adults have a vague idea about what career they want to pursue. The same, however, can't be said for designer LaQuan Smith. The budding designer has taken the fashion world by storm. And what he may lack in age and experience, he definitely makes up in drive.

After the debut of his spring collection in February during New York's Spring Fashion Week, Smith quickly gained the backing of Vogue's Editor-at-Large Andre Leon Talley. But ALT wasn't the only one taking notice of the young designer; recently, Smith was asked to lend his designs to media mogul Tyra Banks for the April cover of her online magazine, Tyra: Beauty Inside & Out.

Black Voices caught up with Smith to discuss what it's like to work with Tyra Banks, his fashion line and the impact he hopes to make on the fashion world.

Tyra's team approached me to do a feature for the debut of her new online magazine. I was so honored to be considered. Tyra modeled my clothing line for the cover. The shoot was actually a first time for everything; it was the first time I met her and the very first time she had worn my clothes. I was really excited about working with her. I used to watch 'America's Next Top Model' in high school with my fashion friends. We would imitate Tyra on the judging panel -- so it was a surreal experience finally meeting her and working with her and learning that she admired my work. I think Tyra's hilarious! She's a great person to be around; always high energy and a very spirited person. I really enjoyed myself.

That's funny because I ask myself that all the time. If anything, I want to bring to the fashion industry my perspective on life and my experiences and my views. I'm 21, and I know that I'm young but I think that just as older people have wisdom, young people have a great deal to offer. We know what's new, what's current and what's next. I think that my visions and my ideas haven't necessarily been displayed anywhere else. I like to feel that I bring something to the table with my imagination and my creations for women.

It was kinda just a buzz in New York. There was this group of people who were very much into the party-crasher scene who would wear my clothes and so a small buzz began. I didn't know at the time, but publicist Kelly Mills gave my leggings out, and I ended up seeing Lady Gaga in them in a magazine, and I was so ecstatic. I didn't even realize at the time that all of this was going on, but after Gaga and other stars started wearing them, everything just fell in line and they started contacting us so we could begin accommodating them and their wardrobes.

I think it was half and half. I did have a majority of people that kind of doubted me and my dreams and aspirations for designing, and just my vision in general. I think it had a lot to do with my age and the fact that I didn't go to school, but then I had a lot of people who supported me and the fact that I was blessed with a talent and that I was just interested in expressing the way I feel and the way I feel women are supposed to dress. For the most part, people have been taken aback by what I have to offer to women.

I'm a huge fan of Cristobal Balenciaga. He was the greatest of his time. I don't want to be like anyone, but I kind of feel like with American fashion and America women, we lose the essence of dressing up. Women really don't dress up anymore, and I feel like Cristobal Balenciaga really gave that, and I'm almost trying to channel myself as the American Balenciaga by really trying to provide American couture for women.

I want people to remember me for always bringing substance to my collection and always bringing fun. I think that specifically when I put on clothes, and when other women put on clothes, I would like to know that they feel secure and comfortable. Like I was saying before, no one wants to go out feeling insecure, and so with my clothes, I want women to be able to put it on and know for sure that they're secure in wearing LaQuan Smith. I think fashion is all about emotion and expression and I'm very much appreciative of my life, and so I do portray that through my collection. I'm always inspired by fairy tales, and the clients that I have always have something really good to say, so it kind of puts it back into reality. I'd really like to be remembered for constantly fulfilling women's needs when it comes to their clothes and feeling good about themselves.