Tyra Banks says 8-year-old son is 'finally understanding' she's a model

Tyra Banks' 8-year-old son, York Banks Asla, is starting to understand what his mother does for a living.

While speaking with TODAY style correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi on Oct. 18 about her 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show appearance , Banks said York is starting to understand that she works in the fashion industry.

"He's finally understanding that I'm a model," she said in the interview.

"And then he's like, 'Mommy, is this a model face?'" Banks added while staring off with a stern face.

However, she noted that she's not "pushing" her kid to follow in her footsteps.

"I'm not pushing him to model. Like, if he wants to do it, he wants to do it, but I'm not going to be that mama," she said.

Read on to learn more about Banks' son, York.

York has his mother's eyes and father's chin In January 2016, Banks announced she and her then-boyfriend, photographer Erik Asla, had welcomed their son, York , into the world with the help of a surrogate.

On Instagram , the "America's Next Top Model" host shared a photo of a baby's hat and said that York looks like both her and Asla.

"The best present we worked and prayed so hard for is finally here," she wrote at the time. "He's got my fingers and big eyes and his daddy Erik's mouth and chin. As we thank the angel of a woman that carried our miracle baby boy for us, we pray for everyone who struggles to reach this joyous milestone. York Banks Asla, welcome to the world."

York loves to be in charge In a 2018 interview with " Entertainment Tonight ," Banks discussed her son's "terrible twos" moments and said York is a kid who loves to be in charge.

"I think every 2-year-old has some terrible moments. And he definitely, definitely has that," she said. "But, he's also like in charge so when he's eating I try to tell him you must sit at the table when you eat, you cannot run around, you must sit. So the other day, yesterday, my mom is eating at the counter in the kitchen. He's like, 'Nana, sit down. You eating. Sit down, Nana.'"

Tyra Banks says York is 'really smart' When York was 2 years old, his mom told reporters at the "America's Got Talent" Season 13 red carpet kickoff that her son is "smart" for his age.

"My son is amazing with his colors," she said, according to People. "He has friends in his classes that are like 're-re-red' and my son is already up to silver and rose and rose gold. And he has been counting to 20 since he was 18 months. So he's really, really smart."

"He speaks Spanish, Norwegian and English," she continued. "He's a smart one — but he's still crazy and damn near rolling on the floor and not listening to me most of the time!"

York is a fan of 'Life-Size 2' In 2018, Banks released her movie "Life-Size 2," in which she plays a doll that has come to life.

While speaking with " Entertainment Tonight " about the film, she said her son adores her character.

"He'll see, like, scenes on my phone and I'll have to kinda look at stuff and make notes and he is transfixed by that when he sees me doing that," she explained.

"There's something about the movie where he just, like, gets lost," Banks continued. "And he's seen me on TV and stuff before and he's not that impressed. But with this he's just like, 'Ahhhh, Mommy!' He likes it."

York knows how to 'smize' Banks is known for coining the phrase "smize." The term refers to someone's ability to smile with their eyes.

Although York is young, Banks said her son already knows how to "smize" in a 2017 conversation she had with Seth Meyers on his late-night show.

"He just has that natural thing and I had it when I was young too, but I do not want him to model," she said.