This Is Emotional! Tyra Banks Surprised Her Mom With Sydney Ice Cream Shop In Her Honor

by Gee NY

In a moment that brought tears to her mother’s eyes — and likely to anyone who watched — supermodel and entrepreneur Tyra Banks unveiled her first-ever Smize & Dream flagship ice cream shop in Sydney with an emotional surprise: her mother, Carolyn London, had no idea she was about to step into her daughter’s biggest dream come true.

And it was never just about the ice cream.

“I kept it a secret from my mom,” Tyra shared on Instagram. “Then I surprised her with her first look at the @SMiZEandDREAM flagship in Sydney. She had no idea what to expect. Her reaction? I’ll never forget it. Ever.”

What followed was a heartfelt, tear-filled moment between mother and daughter — a moment decades in the making, born from hardship, resilience, and the kind of love that shapes lives.

A Sweet Dream Built on Sacrifice

For Tyra Banks, ice cream isn’t just comfort food — it’s a symbol of the bond she shares with her mother. Back when they lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, after her parents’ divorce, Carolyn worked two or even three jobs to support Tyra and her brother. But no matter how hard the week was, there was always a celebration: Friday night ice cream in the car.

“While licking our chocolate (her fave) and coffee (my fave) ice creams in her white Honda Accord,” Tyra recalled on the Smize & Dream website, “we’d laugh, cry, and dream our biggest, most outrageous creative dreams… together.”

Those nights were where the seeds of Tyra’s dreams were planted — dreams that would grow from fashion runways to television screens and now, into a dazzling gold-accented ice cream shop across the globe.

Carolyn’s Emotional Reaction: “It’s Like a Dream”

When Carolyn walked into the Smize & Dream store, she gasped. “Oh my God, it’s huge! I thought it was gonna be a little ice cream store,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “It’s beautiful. Look at that.”

Then she saw the golden Smize & Dream logo on the floor and said what every parent hopes to one day say:

“You worked so hard, and I get to see what you worked so hard for. It’s like a dream.”

The store’s glamorous design — high ceilings, gold finishes, and a curated menu of bold, indulgent flavors — felt surreal. But what meant more to Carolyn was what it represented: years of struggle, hope, and a daughter who never forgot where she came from.

A Hug, A Legacy, A Scoop of Love

In one cozy corner of the store, a framed photo of Tyra and Carolyn hangs next to a message that reads:

“Mama, I’ll never be able to repay you for all the sacrifices you made for me and Devin. So what about if I dedicate my biggest dream to you?”

Carolyn, holding back tears, hugged her daughter.

“I’m so happy. I’m so happy for you,” she said.
“For us, Mama,” Tyra replied.

Smize & Dream: More Than Just Ice Cream

Founded in 2020, Smize & Dream began as a packaged ice cream brand in California before expanding globally with pop-ups in Dubai, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and now, Sydney.

The brand offers 12 unique flavors, each with a story — including Mama Carolyn’s Favorite (buttery cake ice cream with chocolate buttercream frosting) and Tyra’s Favorite (salted caramel butter and pecans).

The flagship store even features a flavor inspired by the Sydney experience: “A Darling Harbour Dream”, with lemon-kissed cream, chunks of shortbread, and swirls of blueberry jam.

And, of course, every scoop contains a “Smize Surprise” — a hidden cookie dough truffle at the bottom of each cup.

A Global Message of Love and Resilience

For Tyra and Carolyn, ice cream was never just dessert. It was therapy. It was joy. It was a ritual that turned struggles into moments of connection — and dreams into plans.

“Wherever I go in the world, I see ice cream, and it makes people happy,” Carolyn said. “It’s moments together having those ice cream treats… and now this.”

This flagship store, born from love and memory, stands as a testament to the power of hard work, motherhood, and imagination — wrapped in a swirl of sweet, creamy joy.

Watch the video of the surprise here. Warning: you may need a tissue.

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