| Human Profile | |
| Name: | Tyson Craig Beckford |
| Birthday: | December 19, 1970 (age 55 years), Born in Bronx, New York |
| Height: | 6'0" (183 cm) |
| Education: | Pittsford Mendon High School (Diploma) Rockland Community College (Dropped Out) |
Overview
Tyson Craig Beckford is an American model, actor, and television host, widely recognized as the first African American male supermodel to sign an exclusive contract with Ralph Lauren’s Polo line, establishing him as an international fashion icon who helped redefine male beauty standards and advocated for greater industry diversity.
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Early Life and Education
Tyson Craig Beckford was born on December 19, 1970, in the Bronx, New York. His mother, Hillary Dixon Hall, is Jamaican, and his father, Lloyd Beckford, is of Panamanian, Jamaican, and Chinese-Jamaican descent. Shortly after his birth, his mother moved the family to Jamaica, where they resided for seven years before relocating to Rochester, New York. In Rochester, he attended Pittsford Mendon High School, where he was a member of the football and track teams. During his school years, Beckford was reportedly teased about his looks.
Discovery and Modeling Beginnings
In 1992, Tyson Craig Beckford’s modeling career began after he was approached in Washington Square Park by Erik Lauren Counsel, an editor for the hip-hop magazine The Source. This encounter led to him being featured in the magazine. Before his discovery, he had a difficult youth and has stated that if it weren’t for modeling, he might have ended up in jail or deceased. He was also involved with a gang in his youth. After his initial magazine feature, he signed with a modeling agency in New York City.
Breakthrough with Ralph Lauren
In 1993, Tyson Craig Beckford was recruited by fashion designer Ralph Lauren to be the front model for the Polo line of menswear. This association quickly catapulted him to fame, and he became the first African American male model to sign an exclusive contract with the designer. The campaigns with Ralph Lauren, particularly for the Polo Sport fragrance, were groundbreaking and made him an international icon in the fashion industry. This role was pivotal in bringing conversations about representation to the forefront of the industry. His success helped redefine male beauty standards globally. In 1995, VH1 named him “Man of the Year,” and People magazine included him in their “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” list.
Acting and Television Projects
Expanding beyond modeling, Tyson Craig Beckford ventured into acting and television. He has appeared in films such as Zoolander (2001), Biker Boyz (2003), and Into the Blue (2005). He has also been featured in music videos, including Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart” and Britney Spears’ “Toxic.”
On television, he hosted both seasons of the Bravo reality competition show Make Me a Supermodel. He has also served as a judge and mentor on the Australian and British versions of Next Top Model. Additionally, he competed on the celebrity reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2003.
Personal Life
Tyson Craig Beckford has one son, Jordan, born in 1998 from a relationship with stylist April Roomet. He was briefly married to Berniece Julien in 2009.
In June 2005, he was injured in a car accident when his truck struck a utility pole and caught fire. He was hospitalized for head trauma and cuts. Beckford has stated that the accident had a profound impact on his spirituality. He remains active as an ambassador for the nonprofit organization Kick 4 Life, which uses soccer to support vulnerable youth in Lesotho. He has also been an advocate for greater diversity in the fashion industry, once declining to walk in a Milan fashion show because he was the only Black model invited from the United States.