Tyson Beckford

Tyson Beckford is an American model and actor who gained recognition as a Ralph Lauren Polo model. Born on December 19, 1970, in Rochester, New York, Beckford's parents have Jamaican and Panamanian roots. After spending seven years in Jamaica, the family returned to New York, where Beckford attended and graduated from Pittsford Mendon High School. His career took off in 1992 when he was approached by Erik Lauren Counsel of The Source magazine. Beckford has since become one of the most successful black male supermodels, securing lucrative contracts and achieving fame similar to his female counterparts in the 1990s. He has also hosted Bravo's program Make Me a Supermodel for two seasons.