Tyra Banks Shares Her Joyful Take on Christmas with New Song ‘Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE’: Aiming to Bring Laughter to All

Tyra Banks as Santa SMiZE.
Credit:

Courtesy of Tyra Banks

NEED TO KNOW

• Tyra Banks’ new song, “Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE,” is out now
• The festive track reimagines the story of Christmas and introduces listeners to Santa SMiZE, a character from her SMiZE & Dream ice cream brand
• “I want everybody laughing,” Banks tells PEOPLE

Tyra Banks is back with a festive surprise: her new song “Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE,” which was released on December 4 to coincide with her 52nd birthday. The track aims to bring a fresh twist to the holiday season by reinterpreting traditional Christmas themes.

The energetic song opens with a bold question: “You think you know Christmas? Do you really, though?” Banks introduces Santa SMiZE—her first character from the SMiZE & Dream line of ice cream—within the lively lyrics, stating, “I want everybody laughing.”

Listeners can expect a three-and-a-half-minute dance track filled with playful references, including a segment inspired by the popular “Cha-Cha Slide,” designed to encourage everyone at holiday gatherings to dance. “I was trying to create a classic. Who knows? It’s not for me to create that classic,” Banks reflects. “I’m not a singer, but hopefully people will be inspired by ‘shine bright, shine far, don’t be shy, be a star’ [from 2000’s Life-Size] and say, ‘She sang something before!'”

The narrative of “Santa SMiZE” involves a young girl named Kelly who lived in the South Pole centuries ago, known for her remarkable ability to craft ice cream from snow. As she gained fame, her friend Claus became envious, leading to a series of events that would change both their lives. “But he started to get a little jealous because she was getting all this attention,” Banks explains. Claus ultimately locked Kelly away and adopted the persona of Santa Claus himself.

To free Kelly from her icy prison, you must chant “Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE,” echoing a playful reference to the film Beetlejuice. A recent childhood moment—a little girl learning to pronounce “Santa” during a family photo session—adds to the whimsical lore.

“Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE” cover artwork.

Courtesy of Tyra Banks

As the narrative unfolds, Banks reflects, “It’s 2025, and she’s back,” remarking on the imaginative return of Kelly to the spotlight.

Banks employed a unique approach while writing. “My engineer and producer was like, ‘Girl, this is a lot of lyrics,'” she recounts, capturing the essence of her creative process with pen and paper, often leading to colorful, chaotic drafts. Despite the disarray, she embraced the challenge, joking about her apparent descent into madness.

Tyra Banks in Sydney in January 2025.

Julian Andrews/Newspix via Getty

Now that “Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE” is available, Banks aims to uplift holiday gatherings with lively instructions embedded in the song, encouraging dance moves from grandmothers doing the Dutty Wine to stepmoms doing the robot. “I wanted to create this moment where everybody is just laughing and crazy together,” she states, alluding to the dynamics found at family gatherings.

Additionally, the song features a nod to diverse desserts from around the globe, introducing listeners to treats like haluhalo from the Philippines and bingsu from South Korea. “I want people to feel seen and cultures to feel like, ‘Damn, wait, homegirl knows what bingsu is,'” Banks expresses with pride.

“Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE” cover artwork.

Courtesy of Tyra Banks

With an array of concepts and vivid lyrics, Banks acknowledges the varied experiences listeners will have with the song. “Not everybody’s got to go deep, but for the person that’s going to go deep, honey, I got all kind of Easter eggs,” she notes, emphasizing her storytelling roots. “A lot of people know me as a model, but I got discovered to be a model while pursuing a career as a writer and producer for television and film. So, I’m only returning back to my roots.”