The Unexpected Reason Tyra Banks Moved to Australia

Tyra Banks has revealed why she moved with her family to Sydney, Australia, last year – and what inspired her relocation across the world.

Banks, who was born in California, has been living down under for the last 18 months with her son, York Banks Asla, nine, and partner, Louis Bélanger-Martin.

She opened up about her decision to move on Monday while appearing as a guest co-host on Today With Jenna & Friends with Jenna Bush Hager. 

‘So I have this ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream,’ she divulged to Hager, explaining that her products are being sold on cruises and airplanes.

‘I was going to Australia a lot because we were making a lot of our ice cream there in a big facility doing our recipes, and I just fell in love with it,’ she continued.

And, interestingly enough, the former America’s Next Top Model creator revealed that Australia ranks among the top three countries that eat the most ice cream.

The other two countries taking the lead are America and New Zealand.

‘So I was like, “I’m happy here, and they love to eat some ice cream, so are we gonna do this, family?” And we did it!’ Banks said simply about the move.

During the show, Banks also filmed a ‘morning in her life’ video from Sydney for viewers.

She started off her day by waking up at 6:30 am and making a cup of coffee before taking viewers on an adventure. 

‘Sydney has so many beautiful sights, but let me show you one of my favorite places to take my little boo boo, my son,’ the Shake Ya Body singer shared.

She then resumed filming from Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour.

‘They have what we call a little mini waterpark, they have swings and stuff for kids,’ Banks shared, as she showed off the gorgeous scene, with kids and parents running around in the background.

In the video, she also gave viewers a glimpse at her new brick-and-mortar ice cream store.

Her appearance on Today With Jenna & Friends comes just one year after the supermodel made a shocking confession after celebrating her birthday with family in Australia.

Banks surprised everyone at the time when she revealed that she had her very first alcoholic drink on her 50 birthday last December.

‘It wasn’t worth it. I was like, ‘This is nasty,” she told People of her first taste of liquor. 

But apart from not enjoying her beverage, the mother-of-one said the rest of her day was ‘so magical.’

‘We took a seaplane, had a meal in the middle of nowhere,’ she gushed of how she spent the day with her mom and best friend.

The Life-Size actress has been open about her sobriety over the years, and once made a statement about her decision to abstain from alcohol.

‘I feel like I’ve been very lucky because I don’t really have an addictive personality. I’ve never had any drugs, and I had a little taste of alcohol when I was 12 years old, but that’s about it,’ she reportedly wrote in an email to fans in 2011, according to Forbes.