Tyra Banks Urges Women to Embrace the ‘Natural Beauty’ of Aging (Exclusive)

‘Don’t be ashamed’ of hot flashes and gray hair, says the supermodel, entrepreneur and former host of 'America's Next Top Model'

“When I was younger in elementary school, I thought 50 was great granny," says Tyra Banks, supermodel and former host of America’s Next Top ModelandDancing with the Stars. "I thought I would have little glasses and just have a quilt on my lap and watch soap operas all day."

It certainly didn't turn out that way.

"What my life is like now is totally different than what I thought 50 was going to be when I was a little girl," says Banks, who celebrated her milestone birthday in Australia, where she has been working and living with boyfriend Louis Bélanger Martin and son York Banks Asla, 8 (whom she shares with ex Erik Asla). "I'm poppin'. I am not insecure about myself. I ain't trippin'. I often say 'Child, [I'm] 50!' before I say something. That statement gives me permission to say whatever the heck I feel like saying."

At this age, Banks truly knows herself. “I’m a momma and an entrepreneur,” she says of her Smize & Dream ice cream venture. “I do Zoom meetings with no makeup and throw my wig on. . . . 50 feels good.”

What do you wish women who are approaching 50 knew?
Women that are approaching 50, I'm not sure if you started hot flashing yet, but it may come and it is not the end of the world.

Use that time that you wake up in the middle of the night to just take care of some things because it will wake you up. Read that book, do that crossword puzzle. Watch the end of that show that you were just so amazed with.

Don't trip about it. Don't be ashamed about it because we all going to go through it and now we can do it together and talk about it, which is really cool and much better than what our parents had to do: Just hold it in and pretend like I'm not hot flashing. Isn't that the sun? No, child. That's you and that's okay, boo.

What shifts have you seen in perceptions of aging or beauty through the years?
I remember back in the day that gray hair was like, oh, you just hid that. You did not show that that was a no-no. Now I see women saying. "I am gray. And not only is that okay, it's amazing, it's beautiful."

When I look at Sarah Jessica Parker with her gray streaks through that blonde ombre hair, she's popping. Andie McDowell, you are just a gem. And I find it to be so amazing. I have on fake hair right now and my fake hair doesn't have gray hair in it, but my real hair does. And I walk around town with my natural cornrows, with my gray edges tamed with a little baby hair juice, but not with dye.

Because today we celebrate women and we still have a long way to go, but we are getting there to where we feel good and not ashamed of the changes and the natural beauty that our body goes through.

How do you like to challenge misconceptions about aging?
I like to challenge misconceptions about aging by saying, "Child, I'm 50." And I was saying, "Child, I'm 50," when I was 49. I could not wait to be 50 because I felt it was a rite of passage to be my true self.

I have bitten my tongue, said the right thing, try to please everybody my entire life. And now, I speak my truth. I demand respect. And it feels good. I can't wait until 60 comes along because I'm probably going to be cursing everybody out.

Your mom has always looked so beautiful and seems to have changed very little since you've been in the public eye. What did she teach you about aging and looking after yourself and your skin?
I'm very, very fortunate to have a mom that was not obsessed with aging in a negative way. She has gray hair, she loves her gray hair. She wishes she had more gray hair. And so I think it taught me to not fear getting older. I don't fear that. I see it as a privilege and I think it's because of my mama.

She also was all about the Vaseline. She would rub that Vaseline all over her eyes. And I was a Vaseline girl too. I've now upgraded to other things, but I, every now and then I'll take that Vaseline and I'm like, maybe that's why I ain't got no wrinkles.

What's the beauty or style trend that you regret?
The beauty trend that I regret was eyebrows that are so skinny. I already have a lot of space between my eye and my lid, so my eyebrows already really up high naturally. And then I would pluck them and then just look surprised. I look back at those pictures, I'm like, 'That was beautiful? We look crazy.' So I regret that one.

For more from People's Beautiful Issue, check out our digital issue or pick up a copy on newsstands Friday.

What makes you the happiest right now?
What makes me the happiest is weekends. I love weekends because as I say, I put that iPhone down, I put that iPad down, that computer down. Family, we go to the movies. We love the mall. Child, we spend all day in the mall. We are that family. We go to the movies, we go get a manicure. We get dessert. I mean, we just love a mall, love a movie, love walking around. It's just my wonderful family time on the weekend and I love it.

Credits

PhotographerRobin Harper

Cinematographer Ted Newsome

Hair Kiyah Wright/Muze Hair

Makeup Valenté Frazier/FIRE House Management

Stylist Brendon Alexander

Prop Stylist Little Apple Projects

Wardrobe

Look 1 Jacket: Ty Stephano x Brendon Alexander, Corset: For The Stars Fashion House, Pants: Michael Kors, Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Earrings: Alexis Bittar

Look 2 Corset: Luv Label by Niz Yashar, Skirt: Balex Studios, Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Earrings: Alexis Bittar, Rings: Ivan Bitton, Bracelets: Alexis Bittar & Laurel DeWitt, Canary Diamond Ring: Anabela Chan

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