Tyra Banks, celebrated for her iconic runway presence and business ventures, recently revealed that her most demanding role unfolds much closer to home. The supermodel and entrepreneur opened up about her experiences with motherhood, the challenges of fame, and her son’s unexpected dreams.

In an exclusive interview with HELLO! at a special event on December 10 at ARTECHOUSE, Banks candidly discussed the complexities of balancing her life as a mother with her entrepreneurial pursuits. The occasion was a dual celebration, marking the success of her Hot Ice Cream brand and the debut of her holiday track, “Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE.”

“Juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship is incredibly tough, particularly nowadays when working from home is so common,” Banks noted. She explained that her son, York, often struggles to grasp that she’s working even if she’s physically present at home.

“There are times when I retreat to another room to give him his space, avoiding any confusion. But there are also moments when I tell him, ‘Mommy wants to be with you, but I need to work, so I’ll be at the kitchen table. Please give me some time, but know I’m still here.’ That’s how I try to maintain a balance,” she elaborated.

Banks also spoke about how York has slowly become aware of her public persona. Initially, she attempted to shield him from the reality of her celebrity status.

“I just wanted to keep him pure as long as possible – of not understanding that,” she said, adding that now, “he kind of doesn’t care, which is really great.” That perspective shifted during one memorable moment.

“I remember once, there [were] a lot of people that were coming up to me and he was like, ‘Mom, I don’t know if I really like when people do that.’” After Tyra explained that the attention took time away from them, York surprised her. “And he’s like ‘Well no, I actually kinda want them to do it to me.’ And I was like, ‘What?’ So that was hilarious.”

As for whether she’d support York entering entertainment one day, Banks is open to the idea but firm.

“I would want my son if he expressed interest in being in entertainment, to study, to earn it. …,” she said. Aware of the “nepo baby” conversation, she added, “They’re gonna say it, but have them just say it just because, not because you’re not excellent.”

Photo Credit: Tyra Banks Instagram