Model and mogul Tyra Banks recently celebrated her 50th birthday with an epic bash in Australia with her family. Banks has been living in the land down under with her partner Louis Bélanger-Martin and 8-year-old son York Banks Asla, whom she shares with her ex, Erik Asla. Banks told PEOPLE that she had her first “alcoholic drink” to celebrate her half-century.

“My mom and my best friend surprised me there, and it was so magical,” Banks said. “We took a seaplane, had a meal in the middle of nowhere. I even had an alcoholic drink for the first time! It wasn’t worth it. I was like, ‘This is nasty!’” 

Banks spent most of her youth as a high-fashion model, jetting off to runways and photoshoots worldwide. Turning 50 has given Banks a breath of fresh air–she’s trying things and letting go of things that no longer serve her, like heels. 

She said, “I wish I can have a uniform as an adult. Yes, I was a fashion model, but I don't care about no clothes child. I could give a damn. And I said goodbye to heels about two years ago. They ain't my friend no more.”

“When I look at Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez and Julia Roberts, I’m like, ‘That’s 50?!’ We have flipped the script!” Banks said of her youthful-looking counterparts changing what people believe “old” to be.

As a mother and entrepreneur, Banks realizes that she’s living the dream. And said, “50 feels good.” Like many young people, Banks thought 50 was old when she was younger. She said, “I thought 50 was like great granny. I thought I would have little glasses and just have a quilt on my lap and watch soap operas all day. I was wrong. What my life is like now is totally different than what I thought. I'm poppin'. I am not insecure about myself. It feels real good.”