Supermodel Tyra Banks has revealed her simple trick to maintaining a timeless look: ‘extra weight’ on her face.
The multi-hyphenated mogul, who turns 50 on December 4, said she has never needed Botox because the natural weight gain has left her face looking “naturally beautiful and juicy.”
Revealing all to DailyMail.com at the Como 1907 charity gala in Villa Erba, Italy, the former America’s Next Top Model host insisted she is keen to embrace everything that comes with growing older – adding that her partner is a fan of her gray hair.
“I think one secret is extra weight because I haven’t been too thin,” she said.
Supermodel Tyra Banks, pictured left in 1993, claims the secret to maintaining her ageless looks is having ‘extra weight’ on her face
The supermodel opened up about how her appearance changes with age when she spoke to DailyMail.com at the Como 1907 charity gala in Villa Erba, Italy
‘I think if you’re very thin, it ages your face. So I think a little juice, because it keeps the face nice and juicy naturally. I haven’t had any injections.’
Although the star has been vocal about switching up fillers or other injectables as she ages, she isn’t completely against cosmetic changes, having had a rhinoplasty early in her career.
“All I did was my nose, and that was many years ago,” she explained. “I’m not against (injections) – maybe one day I will, but I haven’t done it yet.”
Since finding international fame as a model in the 1990s, Tyra’s body has undergone a transformation, with the supermodel happily embracing her fuller figure.
The star admitted she felt like she had gained “a lot” of weight during the Covid pandemic, but made it clear she is in no rush to lose weight.
“(I was) just sitting around and eating, and that’s all I could do was eat, and that was the fun,” she recalled. “Los Angeles had a lot of things like this where you could drive around and have those experiences in your car.”
She continued: ‘So we weren’t walking, we were doing driving experiences… I put it on during Covid and I can get off.’
As the Smize and Dream founder continues to embrace growing older, she revealed that even her partner – businessman Louis Bélanger-Martin – thinks it’s ‘amazing’ that she now has gray hair.
The star has spoken out about not choosing to use fillers or other injectables as she ages
The model, pictured left in 1993, isn’t entirely opposed to cosmetic changes after having a nose job early in her career – pictured right in 2023
She told DailyMail: ‘I think if you’re really thin your face ages. So I think a little juice, because it keeps the face nice and juicy naturally. I haven’t had any injections’ – pictured in 2023
She explained that growing older is a “privilege”, saying: “I have gray hair – I’m not showing it tonight, but my husband loves my gray hair.”
Meanwhile, the star has credited fellow celebrities like Halle Berry and Jennifer Aniston with increasing her excitement about her upcoming 50th birthday and what she expects her to look like.
‘When I was younger, 50 was old, right? It was like a grandma era or something,” she said. “Now I look at Jennifer Lopez, I look at Halle Berry, I look at Jennifer Aniston, and I’m like, ‘What the hell is 50?’
‘I do not even know. I even looked in the mirror and I was like, “Really?”
Tyra admitted that she feels “wiser” and believes there is “a little bit of freedom” that comes with reaching the milestone age.
Tyra happily removed her makeup and showed her followers her natural hair in a photo posted to Instagram in 2021
Since gaining international fame as a model in the 1990s (pictured left in 1997), Tyra’s body has undergone a highly publicized transformation – pictured right in 2019
The model happily embraces her fuller figure and has previously stated that she would like to have more curves – pictured in 2022
As for how the SMiZE productions founder plans to celebrate the big day, she admitted that her loved ones “have surprises in store” – but she won’t be fazed by a big celebration.
‘“I’m not a party girl,” she said. “I don’t mind being the center of attention when I’m speaking about people on a stage, or on television, but if it’s in my personal life, then not.”
It’s safe to say the supermodel is in for a treat, as her boyfriend teased, “It’s been a year in the making.” She doesn’t know what awaits her.’
The star – who started modeling at the age of 15 – achieved several milestones during her career, including becoming the first black woman to pose on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine.
In 2019, she reached another milestone by starring on the cover again at the age of 45, becoming the oldest woman to do so at the time. Earlier this year, Martha Stewart took her over at the age of 81.
Tyra recently stepped down as host of Dancing With The Stars to focus on her business ventures, including the launch of her ice cream brand.