EXCLUSIVE: Tyra Banks reveals the SECRET behind her ageless appearance as she avoids Botox ahead of turning 50 - and claims her partner LOVES her gray hair

Supermodel Tyra Banks has revealed her simple trick to maintaining an ageless appearance - having 'extra weight' on her face.

The multi-hyphenate mogul, who turns 50 on December 4, said she has never needed to use Botox because natural weight gain has helped to keep her face looking 'nice and juicy naturally'.

Revealing all to DailyMail.com at the Como 1907 charity gala in Villa Erba, Italy, the former America's Next Top Model host insisted that she is happy to embrace all that comes with ageing - adding that her partner is a fan of her gray hair.

'I do think one secret is extra weight, because I’ve not been too skinny,' she said. 

'I think if you’re really skinny, it will age your face. So I think a bit of juice, as it keeps the face nice and juicy naturally. I haven't had injections.'

While the star has been vocal about swerving fillers or other injectables as she gets older, she isn't completely opposed to cosmetic alterations, having had a nose job early in her career.

'The only thing I did was my nose, and that was many years ago,' she explained. 'I’m not anti [injections] – maybe one day I will, but I haven’t done it yet.'

Since finding international fame as a model in the Nineties, Tyra's body has undergone a publicized transformation - with the supermodel happily embracing her fuller figure.

The star admitted she felt she put on 'a ton' of weight during the Covid pandemic, but made it clear she is in no rush to slim down.

'[I was] just sitting around and eating, and that was the only thing to do was to eat, and that was the pleasure,' she recalled. 'Los Angeles had a bunch of these things where you could drive around and have those experiences in your car.'

She continued: 'So we weren’t walking, we were doing driving experiences... I put it on during Covid, and I can get off.'

As the Smize and Dream founder continues to embrace ageing, she revealed that even her partner - business Louis Bélanger-Martin - 'loves' the fact she now has gray hair.

She explained that getting older is a 'privilege' as she gushed: 'I’ve got gray hair - I’m not showing it tonight but my man loves my gray hair.'

Meanwhile, the star credited fellow celebrities such as Halle Berry and Jennifer Aniston for adding to her excitement about her upcoming 50th birthday and what she expects to look like.

'When I was younger, 50 was old right? It was like a grandma age or something,' she said. 'Now I look at Jennifer Lopez, I look at Halle Berry, I look at Jennifer Aniston, and I'm like, "What the hell is 50?" 

'I don't even know. I've even been looking in the mirror and I'm like, "Really?"'

Tyra admitted she feels 'wiser' and believes there is 'a little bit of a freedom' that comes with hitting the milestone age.

As for how the SMiZE productions founder plans to celebrate the big day, she admitted that her loved ones have 'surprises lined up' - but she won't be impressed by a big party.

'I’m not a party girl,' she said. 'I don't mind being the center of attention if I'm on a stage and speaking of people, or on television, but if it's in my personal life, then no.'

It is safe to say the supermodel is in for a treat as her boyfriend teased: 'It's been a year in the making. She doesn't know what she's in for.'

The star - who began modeling at the age of 15  - achieved various milestones during her career, such as becoming the first Black woman to pose on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine. 

In 2019, she made another milestone by starring on the cover once again at the age of 45 - becoming the oldest woman to do so at the time. Earlier this year, Martha Stewart usurped her at the age of 81. 

Tyra recently stepped down as the host of Dancing With The Stars to focus on her business ventures, including launching her ice cream brand.