After struggling with infertility for many years, supermodel Tyra Banks announced that she has welcomed a "miracle" baby boy into the world.
In an Instagram message shared late Wednesday, the "America's Next Top Model" host revealed that she and her boyfriend, Norwegian photographer Erik Asla, sought the assistance of a gestational surrogate for the birth of their son.
"The best present we worked and prayed so hard for is finally here," Banks, 41, captioned the Instagram post, which featured a striped baby hat. "He's got my fingers and big eyes and his daddy Erik's mouth and chin."
She added, "As we thank the angel of a woman that carried our miracle baby boy for us, we pray for everyone who struggles to reach this joyous milestone," she wrote. "York Banks Asla, welcome to the world."
Asla later reposted Banks' photo along with the caption, "Witnessing the dawn of life is quite possibly life's greatest gift."
Banks, who also has a syndicated talk show, Tyra Presents FABLife and a direct-selling cosmetics line, Tyra Beauty, told People Magazine back in September that she always wanted to have children, but kept putting it off.
"Since I was 24, I used to say every year, 'I will have kids in three years,'" she said. "I kept saying it over and over again. Because my business is very entrepreneurial. I'm not for hire, so I have to do everything. I kept trying to find that time for that to happen."
"When you're like, 'OK, I'm just going to do it,' then it's not so easy as you get older," Banks added, referring to the pain of undergoing IVF procedures in hopes of conceiving.
"I've had some not happy moments with that, very traumatic moments," she said. "It's difficult as you get older. It's not something that can just happen."
During a September segment of "FabLife", Banks further opened up about the pain of infertility during a discussion with co-host Chrissy Teigen, who shared her struggle.
The two models explained that starting a family is one of the major milestones in women's lives and being unable to despite trying can be an emotional issue.
"I want to co-sign what Chrissy is saying and say 'You have no idea what people are going through,'" Banks said through tears. "Why am I crying? You just have no idea what people are going through, so when you ask Chrissy that or me that or anybody that, it is none of your frigging business, okay?"
"And for any women, it is none of your business what somebody is going through," she continued. "Whether they want to have a child or don't ever want to have a child or may have a child on the way, it's none of your business, okay? Until somebody wants to make it your business."
Teigen, 30, announced in October she and her husband, singer John Legend, are expecting a baby girl sometime in 2016.
