Tyson Beckford gracefully bowed out of the modeling game in 2008. But a phone call from Beyoncé pulled him back in for a really special day.

Ivy Park’s latest capsule collection, lovingly titled IVY HEART, is inspired by love and dropping just in time for Valentine’s Day. Naturally, nothing Bey does is without flair and fanfare, so she pulled out all of the stops and called on considered one of the highest faces (and bodies) of the 90’s and 2000’s. When Beckford got the decision, there was no doubt of what to do.

“I used to be like, ‘The Queen needs her knight? I’m there!’,” he told us. “So it wasn’t even anything to take into consideration. It was just, YES. Hell, yeah.”

And with good reason. IVY HEART is a daring, sensual collection featuring inclusive sizing and gender-neutral options in a spectrum of vibrant reds, playful pinks, and nuanced neutrals. Colours like Candy Paint (Shock Pink), Lipstick Smudge (Red), Raspberry Beret (Power Red), Red, Red Whine (Cherry Wood) and Cheeks (Off-White) are punctuated by tactile materials like velour, ribbed knit, and fake latex.

On the time of our interview, Beckford had already torn into his box and picked out his favorite pieces, though he has to share a few of his highly-coveted Ivy Park goods.

“My mom has put dibs on half of my box already,” he said, noting that his mother had fallen victim to quick sell-out, as so many Ivy Park fans do. “So, it’s going to transcend, because each time she says she goes online at these drops to attempt to get something, Ivy Park’s stuff is gone!”

For Beckford, it was an honor to be called back on set after 13 years away from fashion cameras. After leaving the industry in 2008 feeling that he had done all there was to do, receiving the decision to return for something as beloved and progressive as Ivy Park was a testament to the impact he’s had on the culture. The conclusion partially hit him while on set collaborating with two twin models.

“I got to satisfy the twins, and, oh, man, they were so inspired, those two young guys,” he shared. “They were in awe and so they just were like, ‘Look, we’ve been looking as much as you since we were babies.’ And for me, I forget who I’m on the planet. I at all times remain humbled by just being myself. So, for me, it was just humbling simply to be considered, to even come back.”

“After I got this phone call, it was similar to, ‘You wish my old ass to shoot?’” he laughed.

But relatively than sipping rum punch on the beach for the past decade, Beckford has remained busy while in retirement from modeling. He’s been acting and producing movies, and is even co-owner of United City FC soccer club, which has recently seen championship success – he even designed their kits.

The model-turned-mogul has a giant 2022 coming up after Ivy Park, including a recent film called Singleholic, co-starring Rotimi, Erica Ash and Adrian Martinez. And he’s also going to be honored by one of the vital iconic brands he modeled for.

“I heard Ralph Lauren desires to honor me, as well. So, I would like to take my flowers while I’m here. And it’s rare that we get them,” he observed. “Normally, people don’t get their flowers until they’ve passed. So I’m very honored to be getting mine as I’m here, living, and respiratory well.”