Mysterious figure in black hood at Australian Open revealed as supermodel Tyra Banks

A mysterious figure hiding under a black hood at the Australian Open on Thursday night was a huge American celebrity.

If you noticed a mysterious figure wearing a black hood at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night, we’re here to tell you it was American supermodel Tyra Banks.

Perhaps it was fashion or maybe the ultimate celebrity move for privacy, but Banks was hard to spot moving through the crowd at the Australian Open or in her front row seat to watch world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeat Paula Badosa in the women’s semi-final.

Banks told news.com.au Checkout this week that the one fashion trend never going out of style was “wearing black”.

Watch Tyra Banks at the Open in the video player above

Can you spot Tyra Banks? Picture: news.com.au

The hood proved the ultimate celebrity move for privacy.

She was only briefly captured on the television broadcast during the match, appearing to ask for some food from her front row seat.

But professional photographers got their snaps to prove the TV personality was there.

Banks, 51, has been living in Sydney as she prepares to open a Darling Harbour shop for her ice-cream business Smize & Dream in March.

The match photographers captured Banks in the crowd. Picture: William West / AFP

She was watching the women’s semi-final between Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

She revealed this week that her home back in Los Angeles was lost in the devastating Palisades Fire.

She was enjoying a dinner party in Sydney with friends alongside her partner, Canadian businessman Louis Bélanger-Martin, when she found out.

“I kept checking my phone, not for my house, but for my friends and family, making sure they were evacuating …” she said on Sunrise.

“And then I asked my partner, I said ‘I’m seeing something on my phone here’, and he said … (nods).

“And I just pulled it together and didn’t say anything to my friends, and just stayed in that moment.

Banks chatting with Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“And then we went home, and we cried, and we had our moment.”

Other celebrities spotted at the Australian Open this year include Rebel Wilson and her wife Ramona Agruma, Deborra-Lee Furness and daughter Ava Eliot Jackman, and Dannii Minogue.

Big name athletes in the stands have included Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon, Steve Hooker, Morgan Mitchell, Harry Garside, Tim Tszyu, Buddy Franklin, Marc Murphy, Mason Cox, Nathan Buckley, Adam Goodes, Max Gawn, Darcy Moore, Adam Gilchrist, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Munster, Harry Wilson and Max Jorgensen.