Tyra Banks returns to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover 22 years later

The supermodel was first pictured on the cover of the magazine in 1996

Twenty-two years after making history as the first black model featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Tyra Banks is gracing the cover again.

Banks, who has been featured in the annual swim edition multiple times before, received her first solo cover in 1997, after starring on the cover alongside model Valeria Mazza the year before.

On Wednesday, the magazine announced the supermodel and TV personality had earned the honour again.

The 45-year-old supermodel came out of modelling retirement specifically for the shoot, which was photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas.

In the photos, Banks, who paved the way for other models of colour in the industry, poses in a yellow Andi Bagus string bikini.

Of the opportunity, the supermodel said on Good Morning America: “My first one was 23 years ago, how crazy is that. I’m like ‘Damn, I’m 45 dog!’”

According to Banks, the idea was to recreate the iconic cover photo from more than two decades ago, which saw her posing in a red-and-pink polka dot bikini.

“We couldn’t find the actual one in the archives - so they had it made again and I put it on again. 25 pounds heavier,” she said.

During the photo shoot, Banks told SI that she is “telling people that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and ages,” so she has to “put my money where my mouth is.

“I have to make sure my message is pure.”

SI Swimsuit editor MJ Day said: “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. She’s kind of the Swimsuit Issue ethos come to life, everything we know this franchise can be.”

Banks first started modelling when she was 15 and soon after become a global icon in the industry, featuring on numerous magazine covers and earning the honour of Victoria’s Secret Angel throughout her career.

In addition to breaking barriers as an African-American supermodel, she has also co-authored a book, Tyra’s Beauty, Inside and Out, acted in several movies, and created and hosted the reality television show America’s Next Top Model, which ran for twenty-four seasons.

The supermodel and body-positive activist is one of three women to earn covers for the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Other cover stars include USA National Women’s Soccer team star Alex Morgan and Camille Kostek, the 2018 SI Swimsuit Model Search winner.

This year’s issue, which focuses on the theme “Shattering Perceptions,” features 34 women in total, including the magazine’s first burkini-wearing swimsuit model, Halima Aden.