Tyra Banks Is Focused on Motherhood and ModelLand Right Now — Not Marriage

Most of us were at least a little bit obsessed with America’s Next Top Model at one point in time. Many of us are still pretty obsessed today — who among us has not practiced “smizing” in the mirror? We all have. Supermodel host Tyra Banks is one of the hardest working women in the biz who has been able to create an amazing career spanning several decades (even though she looks like she could have only been alive for, like, three of those decades).

Although Tyra’s professional life keeps her incredibly busy, we also wanted to know a little bit more about her personal life, including her love life and how she’s been enjoying life as a mom ever since welcoming her son York back in 2016. 

It may surprise you to learn that no, Tyra Banks is not married. In fact, she’s never been married, although she did date Norwegian photographer Erik Asla from 2013 to 2017. While Tyra and Erik were dating, they decided to have a child together. Tyra underwent seven rounds of IVF treatment in the hopes of conceiving, but the couple’s efforts were unsuccessful. 

“I've had some not happy moments with [IVF], very traumatic moments," she told People in 2015. "It's difficult as you get older. It's not something that can just happen. When their multiple IVF attempts proved unsuccessful, Tyra and Erik turned to surrogacy and were able to welcome their son York Banks Asla in January of 2016.

“The best present we worked and prayed so hard for is finally here,” Tyra wrote in an Instagram post. “He's got my fingers and big eyes and his daddy Erik's mouth and chin. As we thank the angel of a woman that carried our miracle baby boy for us, we pray for everyone who struggles to reach this joyous milestone. York Banks Asla, welcome to the world.”

In 2017, after five years of dating, Tyra and Erik broke up. At the time, a source told Page Six that the breakup “came drama-free and they’re co-parenting their young son.” The two are apparently still co-parenting young York and don’t seem to have any ill will toward one another.

Neither Tyra nor Louis have confirmed their relationship, but Page Six reports the two have been together since August of 2018 and are currently living together. Louis is apparently divorced and has a 12-year-old son whom he co-parents with his ex-wife, Valérie Martin Scraire. 

Of course, Tyra has plenty on her plate even without taking her relationship into account. In addition to being a mother to 4-year-old York (which we can all agree is a full-time job), Tyra is also busy working on ModelLand, her supermodel theme park. Is there anything Tyra can’t do? It sure doesn’t seem like it.

Since Tyra and Louis still haven’t publicly announced their relationship, there’s no way of knowing whether marriage is a part of their future plans, but if Tyra’s happy (and it certainly seems like she is!), then we’re happy, too. We’re guessing she’s probably doing more than her fair of actual smiling and not just smizing for cameras these days.