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Tyra Banks, 42, and her boyfriend, Norweigan photographer Erik Asla, have welcomed a son via surrogate. Tyra made the announcement on her Instagram and she also issued a pretty lengthy statement to People. In her statement, Tyra referenced her difficult fertility struggle and wrote that she prays for couples struggling to have a baby.
“We are so excited for our new baby boy bundle of joy. The journey to now has not been an easy process, as I’ve shared before. But there was a beautiful bright light at the end of the tunnel for me and his father, Erik,” she tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement.
“As I gaze into the beautiful eyes of my son, I think about all the people who struggle with fertility or carrying a child and continue to pray for them every day. My hopes and dreams are filled with well wishes that they get to feel what my little treasure, York Banks Asla, feels like in my arms.”
It’s over the top, but I guess we can tell that Tyra wrote this herself. “My little treasure” makes me imagine Tyra stroking the baby’s head and whispering “my treasure” in a Golum voice. It sounds strange that she’s praying for everyone who can’t have children, but this was likely a long journey for her. She hinted at it during an episode of her show, FabLife, last September with Chrissy Teigen. Teigen, who was not yet pregnant at the time, talked about her fertility struggles and Tyra got choked up when she said “You just have no idea what people are going through.”
In terms of the name, York is unique but it’s not terrible. It makes me want a peppermint patty, I love those things. York is also the name of a city in the north of England. It could be considered similar to other city names like Brooklyn or Paris.
Oh and here’s Tyra’s Instagram on her baby. I hope she shares a picture of him soon. She also thanked “the angel of a woman that carried our miracle baby boy for us,” which was nice.
Congratulations to Tyra and Erik on their new arrival!
photo credit: WENN and Instgram/Tyra Banks
Congrats !
congrats to them!
is it just me, or does Erik look like the lovechild of Gordon Ramsey and Tom Brady?!
Gordon Ramsey- had to do a double take. lol
I was just thinking that soon as I saw his pic.
I was about to say I didn’t know Tyra was pregnant then I read the article. Congrats to the couple.
Oh, you’re right! Can’t unsee that now.
I totally thought that was Tyra with Gordon Ramsay. And really wondered what the hell was going on.
WHOA. Good catch.
yup!
Congrats to her and hey! who knew she had a man and a baby on the way?! it’s amazing the secrets celebs can keep when not being Attention Thirsty
He was on her show ANTM the last few seasons–cycles, sorry–so the few of us who still watched knew she had a man, but the baby is surprising news. Congrats to them!
-TheRealPinky
She have been a couple since 2013
Good for her! She seems to come from a place of genuine gratitude even if yes, a bit over the top. 😊
I bet that baby will be smizing in no time.
Yeah, it was a little OTT but that’s just Tyra. She seems genuinely happy and I’m happy for them.
Over the top how?
Tyra is so dramatic and LOUD, but you can’t help liking her. She is very unique in this world of cookie cutter entertainers. Grats to her and her man and baby boy…….
It is over the top but good for her. She seems extremely happy. I was going through my son’s baby clothes the other day and came across the newborn hat they put on him right after he was born. Seeing that pic made me smile.
I am not a fan of the name York. Especially combined with Banks Asla.
As for the rest, congrats to Tyra. Glad to hear that despite her fertility issues she got a happy ending.
I’m not a fan either. York Banks Asla could be the name of a prep school.
I don’t like it altogether. York Asla rolls off the tongue nicely though.
I suspect it was an homage to New York, rather than Yorkshire. Awkward sounding-though, and what will her nickname be — Yorkie? Anyways, congrats to all.
I don’t think it sounds strange at all that she’s praying for those suffering from infertility; infertility can be a completely devastating illness for those wanting to have a child. I think it’s sweet that she is sending good vibes and empathy out into the world.
I wish her all the best with her new baby!
I agree. She is emotional because of her journey to get to this place. Having had several friends go through infertility issues and the roller coaster ride emotionally they went through, it becomes a sisterhood in a way because, as one friend put it, you feel alone when couples all around you are getting pregnant with ease. She understands that and wants others in her shoes to have her happy ending. I think it was a wonderfully sweet sentiment to send out into the world during this happy event in her life.
I agree. I like her message and understand the emotion. Not everything needs to be restrained.
42? Wow she looks good.
Nothing but congratulations to them. Maybe over the top but the struggle of infertility is painful and heartbreaking. They probably never thought this day would come. Let them have their moment. (Love the name.)
I’m happy for her, and I actually don’t think it’s over the top at all. Infertility when you desperately want a child is heartrending. If you haven’t gone through it, you wouldn’t necessarily know that. I like that she is showing gratitude for her success, as well as thinking of those who are still struggling.
Me, too.
Me too.
Tyra has talked about wanting to be a mom for years,her joy is not over the top,IMO.
I had no idea she was going through all of that. Sincerest congratulations and best wishes to all three of them.
Mazel tov!
A bit of speculation. The name York probably has something to do with its Scandinavian connotations.
Yorkshire is the site of the most famous viking settlement in England. York was originally called Jorvik, was controlled by Viking kings.
They make a striking couple.
Not to nitpick, but if it’s got Tyras eyes, I’m assuming she used her own eggs which would mean they used a gestational carrier, not a surrogate. A surrogate would use her own eggs and Erik’s sperm, not Tyra’s eggs.
Congrats to both of them!
Well if you want to nitpick, then do it right. Surrogacy comes in different forms. Conceiving through IVF and transferring this embryo to a genetically unrelated woman is called gestational surrogacy. Not making this up. Check wikipedia, has all the references you need.
I’ve always liked her, despite everyone else calling her crazy or weird. She seems nice and fun. Congrats to her and Erik!
Congrats to Tyra! It’s a little over the top, but I can see how this fertility issues hit her hard. She focused on her career until her late 30s/early 40s and then had to deal with fertility issues while the clock was ticking. It took my mom about 9 years to have her first pregnancy after marrying and she was 18 when she wed.
Very sweet statement.
Bet her treasure is cute as can be. 🙂
I am very happy for Tyra! Congrats! But I’m confused, I thought the majority of people have fertility issues at 42? I’m 38 so I’m kind of nodding my head saying yes.
I love Tyra. It is so nice to hear she has a baby like she wanted. Sounds like York will be a much loved little dude. CONGRATULATIONS TYRA!!!!!!!!!!
Awwww congratulations, they look good together and again I love baby pics, excited to see them when they will share.
I don’t think that is over the top at all. If you have struggled to get pregnant there is truly nothing better then holding that little treasure in your arms. Congrats to all 3 of them, and bless the surrogate. I’m so happy for her!
That’s wonderful!! Congrats to the happy family.
Thank-you Tyra – congrats!
I love Tyra Banks and I’m so happy for her, Erik and York. Congrats!!!
I loved her in the movie when she was a doll and turned into a human. I hear they doing another one. Looking forward to it.
Congratulations to them both!! She must be so happy and it’s nice to see her expressing empathy for people who are dealing with infertility still.
Best wishes to both of them.
Congratulations!
I love that she is so vocal about her happiness and the fact that they used a surrogate. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, and I wish more celebrities who use them would say so. Especially if that will help getting surrogacy legal in all 50 states of the U.S.. (It isn’t.)
And if it would make surrogacy laws easier for the couple as well. Unless it has been changed, here in North Carolina, if a couple wishes to use a surrogate, the baby will have to be adopted from the surrogate and the couple must go through all of the regular adoption channels – and costs – just like it was a stranger’s baby. It’s very confusing to me that it’s this way.
It has — I live in NC and its a very favorable surrogacy state. You get a pre birth order before delivery, so no adoption at birth.
Oh wow I didn’t even know she had a boyfriend! (I quit watching ANTM when they started messing with the format and I’ve never taken the time to check out her new show) I’ve always liked Tyra. She’s a bit dramatic but I think she’s sincere and appears to be a nice person. She has talked about wanting children for a long time so I’m very happy for her.
I stopped watching ANTM years ago, but even years ago Tyra kind of alluded sometimes to wanting a child in a way that made it seem like she’d put some trying into it and that it wasn’t just a vague wish for the future. Although this announcement is new, I suspect Tyra’s struggled with infertility for awhile now. I’m glad she’s had her baby, and I’m glad she seems happy in her relationship.