Tyra Banks Makes Wavesbr on the 2019 Cover of 'Sportsbr Illustrated Swimsuit' 22 years after her solo debut in 1997, br the 45-year-old is back on the cover of ‘Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’ edition. Banks made her first appearance on thebr ‘Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’ edition coverbr in 1996 alongside Valeria Mazza. A year later, she went on to becomebr the first black woman to land a solobr cover on the ’Swimsuit’ edition. Editor MJ Day believes Banksbr is the “epitome” of what ‘Sportsbr Illustrated’ hopes for all theirbr ‘Swimsuit’ models to be. MJ Day, via ’Sportsbr Illustrated’ ‘Sports Illustrated’ also released twobr other covers of the 2019 issue featuring,br Alex Morgan and Camille Kostek.