Photo: Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images

The weight of Tyson Beckford’s presence—in fashion—is filled with legacy, pride, and hope; whether he knows it or not. And this week, his appearance on the Milan runways proved just that.  

As a warm ‘welcome back’ to the Ralph Lauren runway, the 55-year-old male supermodel took to the stage (on January 16th) as if he never left! Beckford closed out Lauren’s Fall/Winter 2026 show in Milan—during the bi-annual men’s fashion week showcase—donning a black double-breasted tuxedo look, topped off with a brown furry coat, a white cowboy hat, and tailored tuxedo pants tucked neatly into white socks and tan boots. Other collection highlights featured timeless RL staples, including patterned and printed knitwear, casual wool sports coats, tailored corduroy pants, classic Polo shirts, and branded accessories.

Photo: via RalphLauren.com (Tyson Beckford x Ralph Lauren Fall/Winter 2026 show, Milan, Italy)

The high-profile event not only marked Beckford’s return to the RL runway, but it was also Lauren’s first show in Milan in over 20 years. And in his 30 years of working with the brand, Beckford first signed an exclusive contract with Lauren, back in 1995 (previously managed by the legendary industry icon, Bethann Hardison). Beckford’s first RL campaign debuted in 1994, for Polo Sport, and he quickly followed that up with his 1995 appearance in the first-ever Ralph Lauren Purple Label collection campaign.    

Photo: Bruce Weber (Tyson Beckford x Polo Sport, 1994)

During his prep for the 2025 Met Gala—in support of the Costume Institute’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibit—which celebrated the historical and present-day style contributions of Black Men, Beckford spoke exclusively to People magazine about his groundbreaking career as a Black male supermodel and his longstanding work with Ralph Lauren. Naturally outfitted in a custom RL tuxedo for the Met, Beckford shared that he “didn’t think about trying to break boundaries because I didn’t know there were boundaries to be broken.” Further stating, “…to find out that I was making history and becoming a supermodel — that was so far from who I was and what I was trying to do. I just wanted to make some money, pay the rent, and just be able to have a little breathing room.”

Photo: Arnaldo Anaya-Lucca (Tyson Beckford x Ralph Lauren Purple Label, 1995)

Well, time has certainly proven that Beckford has not only provided adequate breathing room for himself, but he’s also paved a way for countless other Black men to dare to dream—myself included.  

I remember first meeting Beckford during the height of his modeling career (in Harlem, New York), at the famed Rucker Park. I was a kid, hanging out with my family during the annual summer basketball tournaments there, and the courts were teeming with local notables and industry celebrities. And the moment that Beckford walked through those silver playoff gates (as an event attendee), the crowd went crazy with excitement! His chiseled physique and now-legendary runway walk were in natural form, his street style fit was ‘90s-coded, and he radiated a confidence and positive energy that one could only imagine of the highest-paid male supermodel at the time.  

As I nervously approached him to ask for an autograph, he happily obliged, and he encouraged me to always follow my dreams. Fast-forward to 2026, and here I am writing about Beckford’s continued industry dominance—and for my own men’s magazine, no less. A mighty, and full-circle fashion moment, indeed.

Bravo, Mr. Beckford… Bravo!  

IMAGE USAGE STATEMENT: All photos within this article are used for editorial purposes and cultural reference only. Image credits are fully notated with rights reserved for the image owner(s).