Tyra Banks jumped out of retirement when she debuted her gorgeous self on the cover of summer 2019's Sports Illustrated. The 45-year-old was the first black woman to grace the magazine solo in 1997 and now that she's back to posing in front of the camera, she's also announced a new name for her modeling self to go by. "You know how models have interesting names, different names like Twiggy? She wasn't born Twiggy. I was born Tyra," she told ET, explaining how her new name is now "Banx, with an X. B-A-N-X." "I want me coming out of retirement to be bigger than me, and for me to represent women to say, enough of this cookie-cutter thing," she added to the publication. "As much as we've progressed with beauty, there's still a long way to go of opening up the door and redefining what it means, and so that X stands for 'X what you heard about what beauty means.' We are making a new rule that so many more people can fit into this beauty box. Let's bust the box open." Banx also detailed that while she's back to posing, she still has insecurities just like any other human but doesn't let them stop her from doing what she loves best. "You know, there's just things that I don't like but I just don't dwell there. But I'm also very honest and saying I don't like it, but it's not the end of the world," she said.<doc-sep>Tyra Banks is making a significant change when it comes to her modeling name. The 45-year-old supermodel just came out of retirement to cover the summer 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, 22 years after her groundbreaking 1997 SI Swimsuit cover, when she became the first black woman to grace the annual cover solo. In an interview with ET's Nischelle Turner on Wednesday, Banks talked about what has changed over the past two decades, which surprisingly, includes her famous name. Banks says her modeling name is now "Banx, with an X. B-A-N-X." "But just my model name," she notes. "You know how models have interesting names, different names like Twiggy? She wasn't born Twiggy. I was born Tyra Banks, K-S." Banks says she changed her name to represent changing standards of beauty. "Yeah, Banx with an X. Because I want me coming out of retirement to be bigger than me, and for me to represent women to say, enough of this cookie-cutter thing," she explains. "As much as we've progressed with beauty, there's still a long way to go of opening up the door and redefining what it means, and so that X stands for 'X what you heard about what beauty means.' We are making a new rule that so many more people can fit into this beauty box. Let's bust the box open." Laretta Houston/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Of course, Banks acknowledges she's still not 100% body confident at this age -- but she's learned to accept it in a much healthier way. "I'm human," she notes. "I still don't love the cellulite on my butt. I still know how to twist and turn even during this photo shoot to make sure you don't see the dimples on my booty, so I still have that. I just don't linger there, and I celebrate the things that I'm proud of. I don't like that my calves are too skinny. I don't like that. I have flat feet. I don't like that my hands look 20 years older than my face. You know, there's just things that I don't like but I just don't dwell there. But I'm also very honest and saying I don't like it, but it's not the end of the world." ET spoke to Banks last April, when she talked about her infamous, emotional "Kiss my fat a**" clapback at body-shamers in a 2007 segment on The Tyra Banks Show. Watch the video below for more: Why Tyra Banks Wanted to Re-Do Her Infamous Clapback Against Fat Shamers (Exclusive) This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. If you are using ad-blocking software, please disable it and reload the page. GET THE ET NEWSLETTER Email By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy RELATED CONTENT: Tyra Banks Makes Modeling Comeback With 3rd 'SI Swimsuit' Cover Tyra Banks to Open a Disney-Style Attraction Called 'Modelland' Tyra Banks Says She Dated a ‘Very Famous Recording Artist’ After He Slid Into Her DMs Related Gallery<doc-sep>"BanX represents rebirth and that beauty boundaries only exist to be broken," the multi-hyphenate star said of her new modeling name Why Tyra Banks Will Now Go by 'BanX' as She Returns to the SI Swim Cover After 23 Years 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. Get push notifications with news, features and more. 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. tyra-split Credit: 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.” 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. tyra banks Credit: 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.” SI-covers Credit: 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.<doc-sep>
(CNN) — Tyra Banks is remaking her modeling moniker. The woman who went from model to mogul is back on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s coveted swimsuit issue, 22 years after becoming the first black model to be so honored. Tyra Banks is back and on the cover of ‘Sports Illustrated’ She told “Entertainment Tonight” she is changing her modeling name to “BanX.” “Yeah, BanX with an X,” Banks said. “Because I want me coming out of retirement to be bigger than me, and for me to represent women to say, enough of this cookie-cutter thing.” Banks, 45, said she’s not the same size she was at the time of her first SI cover, but she’s fine with that and wants others to celebrate their authentic selves. Her new modeling name reflects that view. “As much as we’ve progressed with beauty, there’s still a long way to go of opening up the door and redefining what it means, and so that X stands for ‘X what you heard about what beauty means,’ ” she said. “We are making a new rule that so many more people can fit into this beauty box. Let’s bust the box open.” Banks also offered what would be her advice now to her younger self on the cover. “I would say, ‘Tyra I know you’re really, really driven, buts sit you a** down,’” she said. “Sit down, take some time, go to the spa, chill at the movies with your friends, don’t just run in and out. Success is important, but also (so is) the balance of taking it all in.”