#BLACKWOMANMAGIC: TYRA BANKS COVERS SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE 2019 - Her RECORD THIRD SI SWIM COVER!!!

CCG CONGRATULATIONS to Supermodel-Business Mogul-America's Next Top Model host Tyra Banks for once-again making history by scoring the cover for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: SWIMSUITS ISSUE 2019!!!

TYRA BANKS was photographed for SI SWIMSUIT 2019 in Grand Exuma, Bahamas by photographer Laretta Houston

2019 marks a historic third SI SWIM cover for Tyra. Her first was one that she shared with fellow supermodel Valeria Mazza in 1996. The photoshoot took place in South Africa.

In 1997 Tyra Banks made history by becoming the first Black Woman to score a SOLO SI Swim cover.


-CCG

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This is for everybody that has been told that they are not good enough because of their body, their age, their everything. #BanX is here to tell you that you ARE friggin’ fierce no matter what anybody says! Drop mic now! @si_swimsuit 2019

A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on May 8, 2019 at 9:54am PDT

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What’s YOUR super power? #BanX

A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on May 10, 2019 at 10:01am PDT

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One thing that was very important for me with my return to @si_swimsuit modeling was to give other people life changing opportunities. @mj_day and I were committed to also highlighting swimsuit designers of color. So while I may look like I’m just trying to be as fierce as I can be for the camera, I’m really trying to make this photo pop off the page so that @jai_nice and @klosetenvy get the recognition they have been working so hard for and truly deserve. I mean, a swimsuit with a garter attached?! The first I have ever seen! Innovation at its best. 👊🏽 #BanX #ForTheCulture

A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on May 11, 2019 at 9:29am PDT

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I gotta be real with you and admit that this is one of my favorite photos that I took for @si_swimsuit. I think it’s because it harkens back to a time in fashion right before my prime. The 1980s. That era of modeling was all about swimsuits that cut very high up on the leg - so high it almost reached their armpits - ha! And I can remember looking at Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoots when I was still a youngin’ and thinking, wow, that’s sooooo cool! I never thought that I would be bold enough to wear something like this and it’s crazy because this was the first shot that we did on the very first day at the crack of dawn in the morning. But I was ready. Ready do something different. Ready to do something DARING. Ready to pay homage to the supermodels of the 80s who worked their asses off to lay the foundation for me and future generations to soar! #BanX

A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on May 13, 2019 at 8:23am PDT

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Remember the 10 year challenge every one was doing on social? The one where you posted a photo of yourself now next to a photo of yourself 10 years ago? Well, I guess this is my @si_swimsuit 22 year challenge. Scroll the pic to see. But to me, it’s not just about what I’m looking like. It’s about what I’m FEELING like. Back then, I knew I had a plan to do more than model. I knew I wanted to make a difference. I knew I had a calling to do more than for just myself. I just didn’t know HOW I was gonna do it. Today, 22 years later, I rise out of bed everyday to show that yes, a woman who was a model (and is now a model again!) can indeed be powerful beyond pictures. Can indeed be a strong leader in changing the world’s perceptions of narrowly defined beauty. Can indeed be an example for others to follow so I can sit back one day when I’m old and gray to enjoy the things that YOU are doing to push my mission further than I ever dreamed possible. Yeah, my 22 year challenge has a whole ‘nother meaning beyond what you just SEE. #BanX

A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on May 12, 2019 at 2:27pm PDT

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With posing for the camera, in today’s day and age with the proliferation of selfies, people are often just posing for themselves...looking at their reflection on their phone’s screen and trying to be the prettiest for themselves as they look at themselves. There is nothing wrong with that, but I challenge everyone to take it one step further. True connection of a photograph is looking into a lens and thinking about the person that is going to SEE it. Connecting to them and eliciting an emotion that you want them to FEEL. It was important for me when shooting this photo for @si_swimsuit to demonstrate this for all of you. So look at the photo again now. I’m reaching out to you. What do you FEEL when you see this picture? Now go try this for yourself. Go click-click and think about emotion. Make me proud! #TyraTaughtMe #BanX

A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on May 11, 2019 at 9:29am PDT

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Baby hair pumpin’ lips all poutin’. 🧩 @si_swimsuit #BanX

A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on Jun 3, 2019 at 11:22am PDT

SI SWIM