Thirteen years after retiring from modelling to pursue a career as an entrepreneur, actor and smize queen, 45-year-old model and mogul, Tyra Banks, is coming back to model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 issue. She was the first black model to pose on the cover of the magazine alone, way back in 1997.
The theme for the issue is “Shattering Perceptions“, and for the cover photo, Banks sported a yellow Andi Bagus bikini and her signature smize, photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Tyra first made her Sports Illustrated cover debut in 1996, sharing the cover with model Valeria Mazza, and as we mentioned, in 1997 she grace alone for the cover magazine.
“This is for everybody that has been told that they are not good enough because of their body, their age, their everything,” Banks wrote on Twitter. “#BanX is here to tell you that you ARE friggin’ fierce no matter what anybody says!”
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editor MJ Day said in a statement, “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”.
Banks is one of three stars getting their own cover. She’s joined by Alex Morgan, USA National Women’s Soccer team star and Olympic gold medalist, and Camille Kostek, 2018 SI Swimsuit Model Search winner and 2019 SI Swimsuit Rookie. Check out a sneak peak of the Tyra Banks photoshoot below.
#Peace.Love.TyraBanks
