profile_view_controller.rb

class HomeViewController < UITabBarController
  def loadView
    super
    list_view_controller =  ListViewController.alloc.init
    profile_view_controller = ProfileViewController.alloc.init
    self.setViewControllers([list_view_controller,
                             profile_view_controller], animated:true)
  end
end

class ProfileViewController < UIViewController
  def loadView
    super
    self.title = "Profile"
    self.view = UIView.alloc.initWithFrame(UIScreen.mainScreen.bounds)
    self.tabBarItem = UITabBarItem.alloc.initWithTabBarSystemItem(UITabBarSystemItemContacts, tag:1)
  end

  def viewDidLoad
    super
    self.view.backgroundColor = UIColor.whiteColor
  end
end

self.viewControllers.each { |view_controller| view_controller.view } gets the desired effect, but feels dirty.