When Tyra Banks welcomed her son, York, in 2016, it was the culmination of a journey filled with challenges, heartbreak, and ultimately, triumph. In a candid interview with People, the iconic model shared her deeply personal story about the difficulties she faced while trying to conceive and how surrogacy eventually brought her joy.

Tyra Banks' Struggle to Conceive

At 44, Tyra Banks revealed that becoming a mother wasn’t as straightforward as she had hoped. After dating her then-partner, Erik Asla, for some time, the couple decided to start a family. But their path was fraught with obstacles. "We tried for a while," Tyra confessed, "but nature didn’t cooperate." When natural conception didn’t work, they turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process that proved emotionally grueling. "It was like living in this constant state of hope followed by disappointment," she said. For over a year, the couple endured repeated failed attempts, each one leaving them heartbroken and questioning whether they’d ever realize their dream of parenthood.

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During this period, Tyra’s mother, Carolyn London, witnessed her daughter’s emotional turmoil firsthand. "Watching Tyra go through all of that was absolutely heartbreaking," Carolyn recalled. "She prepared the nursery, even placed a special tile in the bathroom that read, 'Mommy Already Loves You.' And then came the news that the IVF had failed. It was devastating for both of us."

The Decision to Pursue Surrogacy

After much deliberation, Tyra and Erik decided to pursue surrogacy—a decision that brought its own set of challenges. "It’s not an easy process," Tyra admitted. "There are so many stages, and every step feels like walking on eggshells." From ensuring the embryo was healthy to monitoring each month of development, the couple remained vigilant and anxious until the day York was finally born. "Until I held him in my arms, I couldn’t fully relax," Tyra said. "But the moment I did, everything felt worth it."

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I'm hearing, "Happy Mother's Day" and I can't believe how lucky I am! Of all the fashionable hats I wear, I love being a #mother the most. #HappyMothersDay from me and my mama to all the wonderful women of the world!
A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on May 8, 2016 at 7:47am PDT

Motherhood: A Rewarding Experience

Today, Tyra is nothing short of grateful for her life with York. "Everything that happened led me to this beautiful moment," she reflected. "It was all meant to be." Her mother, Carolyn, couldn’t agree more. "When York arrived, it was pure joy," Carolyn said. "I kept repeating, 'You have a baby!' Watching Tyra be a mom has been such a blessing. She’s incredible with York—so nurturing and communicative." Despite the happiness York brings, Tyra isn’t rushing to expand her family just yet. When asked about having another child, she laughed and said, "We’ll see!"