People.com Lifestyle Health Why Tyra Banks Will Now Go by 'BanX' as She Returns to the 'SI Swim' Cover After 23 Years "BanX represents rebirth and that beauty boundaries only exist to be broken," the multi-hyphenate star said of her new modeling name By Brittany Talarico Brittany Talarico Brittany Talarico is PEOPLE's Deputy Style Director, where she oversees the brand's digital Style and Beauty coverage. This includes running lead on the Met Gala, which is among PEOPLE.com's top-trafficked red carpet events every year, interviewing the industry's top influencers (including all the Kardashian-Jenners), and breaking A-list celeb news (a New Jersey shore native, it is no surprise that her favorite interview ever was with Bruce Springsteen). Brittany is a style contributor to People Every Day Podcast and has represented the brand on national TV programs including Good Morning America and The CW's two TV specials on the British Royals. She joined PEOPLE from Cosmopolitan in 2013, where she was an Associate Editor. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 8, 2019 03:23 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Tyra Banks just announced a name makeover. The TV personality and entrepreneur, 45, revealed to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit that she is now changing her moniker to “BanX,” to signify her rebirth in the modeling scene after exiting in 2005. Banks made her comeback with the reveal of her 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover on Wednesday, which marked her return to the magazine after being the first black model to pose on the cover alone in 1997. Sports Illustrated(2) The new name symbolizes “X-ing out cookie-cutter beauty,” the star told SI. “Mononyms are exciting in the industry,” she explained. “But usually models use their first names, like Iman. I want to flip the script and go by my last name. I’m taking something familiar and making it new. I’m wiser now and thicker.” “BanX is me, but she’s also every woman,” she added. “BanX represents rebirth and that beauty boundaries only exist to be broken.” She’s Back! Tyra Banks Comes Out of Modeling Retirement to Cover Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 Since her retirement from modeling, Banks has built many successful businesses and fronted the hit America’s Next Top Model television franchise. Now she’s a guest lecturer for a personal branding course at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and runs her many companies. Raymond Hall/GC This marks the third SI Swimsuit cover for Banks, 45, whose career was launched when she first starred on the cover of SI Swimsuit in 1996, with model Valeria Mazza, followed by a solo cover in 1997. “I am telling people that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and ages,” she told SI Swimsuit. “I have to put my money where my mouth is. I have to make sure my message is pure.” Laretta Houston/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Banks is one of three stars getting their own cover. She’s joined by Alex Morgan, USA National Women’s Soccer team star and Olympic gold medalist, and Camille Kostek, 2018 SI Swimsuit Model Search winner and 2019 SI Swimsuit Rookie. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit is on stands May 8.