Tyra Banks walked her last runway years ago, and the supermodel has since been focusing on becoming a business mogul by way of several media ventures. Still, the diva's love for modeling never faded, coming out of retirement for this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover.
The 2019 issue comes two decades after Banks became the first Black woman to grace the cover of the magazine alone in 1997. She was featured alongside model Valeria Mazza in 1996.
“My first one was 23 years ago; how crazy is that,” said the America's Next Top Model creator on Good Morning America. “I’m like damn — I’m 45, dog!”
Tyra Banks posing during her 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photo shoot in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Laretta Houston/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
“Since Tyra’s first cover in 1996, she’s transformed herself into nothing less than a mogul, a cultural force and a supernova of inspiration and empowerment,” says SI Swimsuit Editor MJ Day. “She’s kind of the Swimsuit Issue ethos come to life, everything we know this franchise can be.”
Banks is one of three stars who received her own cover; the others were Alex Morgan, USA National Women’s Soccer team star and Olympic gold medalist; and Camille Kostek, 2018 SI Swimsuit Model Search winner. Check out more looks from Banks' shoot below.
