Tyra Banks’ Heart-wrenching IVF Journey Before Son York’s Birth Will Even Make the Cold-hearted Sob
- Tyra Banks shares York with her ex-boyfriend Erik Asla.
- Supermodel revealed she had undergone a year and a half with IVF.
- Banks returned to ramp for 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Regarded as one of the world’s top-earning models, Tyra Banks started her modeling career at the age of 15. She became the first African-American woman to be featured on GQ and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Banks, who was Victoria’s Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005, was one of the only black models who had attained supermodel status.
Tyra Banks created America’s Next Top Model, the long-running reality series, in 2003, serving as the executive producer and the host of the show for twenty-two seasons. Banks enlisted Rita Ora as the host for the 23rd season in 2016 before taking over the duties for the 24th. The supermodel is known as one of the most influential models in the industry, and young and aspiring models look up to her. Despite being at the top of the game, Tyra Banks has seen low days when it comes to her personal life.
Tyra Banks details her traumatic IVF journey
Known as one of the top supermodels in the world, Tyra Banks recently returned to the runway to close the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on October 15, 2024. Her return to the runway led to fans digging deep into her life, and one such aspect of her life is the experience she had with IVF. Back in 2015, she spoke to People magazine about her struggles and shared,
When I turned 40, the one thing I was not happy about was that I did not have kids. I am like, ‘Damn, the clock is ticking.’ Since I was 24, I used to say every year, ‘I will have kids in three years’. I kept saying it over and over again. Because my business is very entrepreneurial. I’m not for hire, so I have to do everything. I kept trying to find the time for that to happen.
However, the model at the time added that it’s not easy to have kids when one gets older. Banks, who was dating photographer Erik Asla at the time, revealed that she had undergone IVF procedures in the hopes of conceiving. She shared with the publication,
I’ve had some not-happy moments with that, very traumatic moments. It’s difficult as you get older. It’s not something that can just happen. I don’t just want one child. I want a litter! And I want to be the kind of mom where my child can come to me for anything.
Banks and Asla welcomed their son York via surrogacy in 2016. In her interview with ET, she shared that her embryos were not healthy, which is why her IVF never worked. She noted that she did it for about a year and a half of IVF, expressing that some women do it for years. Ahead of the release of her memoir, Perfect is Boring, the supermodel spoke to People and candidly spoke about her struggles with pregnancy and noted,
It was emotional.
As much as it was emotional for Banks, it was equally emotional for her mother, Carolyn London, who had to watch her daughter go through difficult times. She at the time noted that it hurt her so much to see Banks struggle through that. She also revealed that she was thrilled when Banks welcomed her son, adding that she’s an amazing mom.
Tyra Banks talks about her return to the ramp and feeling different
Banks’ return to the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on October 15 surprised a lot of people. She spoke to Today about her return, revealing one request she made.
Every single Victoria’s Secret Show I have ever done, my booty was covered in some way. That was just my kind of insecurity. And it’s still there; I can keep it real.
So she asked her outfit to not have her booty out. Upon her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the model shared that usually she walked for herself, but this time it was different. Banks added,
When I was a model, I was walking for myself, and I retired almost 20 years ago, but when I was walking on the 2024 Victoria’s Secret runway this time, I felt like everybody was inside of me. Fifty-year-old women, insecure women—I just felt like there was more. I look at the playback, and I’m like, ‘Boom, boom, boom’. I was stomping because I felt like I was a vessel more so than it’s just all about me. It was different.
Banks shared with Drew Barrymore that the shift in perspective was due to her changing body, and she explained that the b**bs were 10 times bigger on this runway compared to the ones when she retired.
Tyra Banks graced the runway in a dazzling silver cape and crystal embellished outfit. She is known for being the first black model to sign a contract with Victoria’s Secret.
