âNow that Iâm retired and sitting back, I look at her and go, âHoly cow, sheâs amazing.â And thatâs my baby!ââCarolyn London Tyra Banks has always been close to her mother, Carolyn London. But just how close was hammered home to them when Banksâs 2-year-old son, York, came up with a double-duty nickname. âHe calls us Mama Nana,â says Banks with a laugh.
Throughout Banksâs life, London, who once managed her daughterâs career, has been indispensable: helping Banks break into modelling at 15, encouraging her to break down racial and physical barriers in the fashion world and, more recently, standing by her side as Banks, 44, battled fertility issues before becoming a mother herself.
âIt hurt me so much to watch her struggle,â says London, 72. Now Banks, who splitâŚ