Supermodel Tyra Banks Becomes A Mother

The former supermodel and beauty entrepreneur and boyfriend, Norwegian photographer Erik Asla, have welcomed a son, York Banks Asla, via gestational surrogate, her rep confirms to PEOPLE.

Supermodel and the founder of “American Next Top Model” gave birth to a bouncing baby boy with Norwegian photographer boyfriend Erik Asla.

Tyra’s baby was by gestational surrogate; Banks previously opened up about her infertility struggles, revealing that she had undergone IVF procedures in hopes of conceiving.

“When I turned 40, the one thing I was not happy about is that I did not have kids,” she told PEOPLE. “When you’re like, ‘Okay, I’m just going to do it,’ then it’s not so easy as you get older.”

“We are so excited for our new baby boy bundle of joy. The journey to now has not been an easy process, as I’ve shared before. But there was a beautiful bright light at the end of the tunnel for me and his father, Erik,” she tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement.

“As I gaze into the beautiful eyes of my son, I think about all the people who struggle with fertility or carrying a child and continue to pray for them every day. My hopes and dreams are filled with well wishes that they get to feel what my little treasure, York Banks Asla, feels like in my arms.”