Sports Illustrated have found their finalists for the upcoming Swimsuit Issue, and it’s the most diverse panel yet.
A staple in the magazine since 1964, the Swimsuit issue was long the centre of controversy, with some condemning it as objectifying women due to its spot in a generally male-centred magazine.
Critics perceived it as objectifying women, while others argued it was represented the pinnacle of success for supermodels.
In recent years, Sports Illustrated has sought to feature more diverse models in its pages, and featured Muslim model Halima Aden in a hijab and bikini in 2019, with plus size model Hunter McGrady starring in the magazine the same year.
Meanwhile, Valentina Sampaio became the first transgender woman to feature in the magazine in July 2020.
Embracing the new move, this year the popular sports magazine has rounded up 14 of the world’s most inspiring women to be in with the chance of appearing in the 2023 issue.
The 2022 Swim Search finalists include a Nasa astronaut, hero ICU nurse, lawyers, women who have battled life-threatening diseases, full-time carers and more.
Thousands of incredible women applied for the 2022 Swimsuit issue, and after months of difficult decisions, 14 finalists have now made their way to the Dominican Republic for the finals.
All 14 will work with professional photographer Yu Tsai in a potentially life-changing photoshoot, before one is chosen to be the Rookie in the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
The finalists themselves, as well as the public, have praised the diverse range of models up for a chance to be included in the prestigious, career-launching shoot.
Ashley Byrd holds a degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Public Administration, and has worked as everything from construction worker to full-time model.
She admitted she ‘almost talked myself out of submitting to this search because I was doubting myself’ and has now urged others to believe in themselves and follow their dreams.
Ashley Callingbull is a Cree First Nations woman, and works as a model, motivational speaker and advocate for her culture, regularly volunteering with the community and inspiring aboriginal youth.
She is the first-ever Indigenous woman to reach the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit finalists, and praised the team ‘for believing in me, helping me amplify my voice and also for making sure that I won’t be the last Indigenous woman to grace the pages of Sports Illustrated.’
A fan, commenting on her Instagram as she announced the news, praised the edition for ensuring that she ‘sets the path for so many other Indigenous Women’.
Drew Dorsey is a popular model, journalist and YouTuber who has hosted the likes of Uproxx’s Wom/n Worldwide and Culture Quick Bites.
Reacting to the news she had made it to the finals, she urged other aspiring models: ‘Please please don’t ever give up on your dreams. This was my second year auditioning and look what happened because I didn’t give up.’
Gigi Robinson is a popular mental health and chronic illnesses advocate, having suffered from health problems for over a decade.
She hopes to make a difference for people living with invisible illnesses, and ‘ to change the industry by showcasing someone like me, with invisible conditions… We are going to change the world.’
Hannah Goodwin is a content creator and businesswoman, having founded the popular photo and video-editing app Setty.
She regularly urges other women to follow their own dreams and believe in themselves using her large following on platform media.
Hillory Fields, named after Hilary Clinton and Maya Angelou, is an ICU nurse who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and developed an app to help other nurses have their say about how they were being treated.
Being named a finalist for the Swimsuit issue is, she said, the best ‘way to inspire women to be intentional with what you speak over your life’.
One fan, commenting on the news, raised Sports Illustrated and Hillory for ‘Shattering glass ceilings and breaking down doors’.
Kelly Crump is a model and cancer advocate, who survived life-threatening breast cancer which spread to other areas of her body including her neck, lung, armpit, ribs and spine.
She developed a major social media following as she detailed her challenges, including six surgeries and 60 rounds of chemo.
The model praised the 13 other finalists, describing them as ‘amazing, strong, intelligent and awe inspiring women’, with a fan praising Sports Illustrated for choosing a woman who is ‘such an inspiration for so many’.
Professional athlete Lotta Hintsa is a daring high-altitude climber and lives an envious nomadic lifestyle, and inspires others by urging them to do the same.
She praised SI for the way it ‘advocates for strong women, and pushes for change in how we are perceived as women.
‘The way they redefine femininity is extremely inspiring to me, and it is such an honor to support their messaging’.
Mady Dewey is yet another self-made businesswoman, having created her own no-pressure photo-sharing app for women and non-binary people after noticing how social media was negatively affecting her mental health during the lockdown.
The model said she was ‘beyond honoured’ to be chosen, and urged other women to ‘go after ALL their dreams & let go of what anyone else thinks about it’.
Manju Bangalore is an absolute all-rounder, previously holding the title of Miss World California, working at two different Nasa centres.
She has set up two charities, providing more than 200,000 menstrual products as part of her charity Operation Period, and providing free art classes to Parkinson’s’ Disease sufferers as part of her second non-profit, Painting With Parkinson’s.
Michelle Fuente Steffan is a former lawyer who gave it all up to follow her dreams of becoming a model.
Now with an international career, Michelle is smashing old traditions as she cares out an impressive career as a plus-sized model.
Nicole Pertrie works as a model alongside being a carer for her mother, who suffers from FTD (Frontal Temporal Degeneration). She is an advocate for awareness around FTD as well as providing a voice for caregivers.
Nicole said being chosen for the edition is ‘a testament to believing in yourself, in chasing after your goals with your whole heart and not letting anyone tell you that you can’t achieve exactly what you want to’.
One Instagram follower, who also cares for her own mother, said she was ‘so happy your dreams are coming true & you’re bringing awareness to FTD and caregiving.’
Sarafina Nance is an astrophysicist, real-life astronaut, children’s book author and women’s health advocate, having undergone a preventative double mastectomy at 26.
She said it was the ‘MOST surreal feeling’ to be named as a finalist, adding she was ‘stunned but so honored’ to be among ’13 other incredibly strong change-makers’.
Her fans and followers lauded praise on Sports Illustrated for choosing such an ‘inspiring’ woman, with one person writing: ‘The courage you display truly inspires many of us to keep pushing regardless of what cards we have been dealt.’
Another said: ‘This is so incredible! They HAVE to pick you! Holy s***, PhD student, cancer advocate, women in STEM advocate, Children’s book author, analog astronaut, role model for people everywhere.’
Victoria Vesce is a model, dancer, journalist and survivor of a brain tumour, having lost much of her hearing to the illness. She is currently studying to be a lawyer and is an advocate for National Brain Tumor Society, the Hard of Hearing, and Grief Support.
She said she was ‘proud to be able to showcase that you can do it all if you want to,’ and to ‘support those who are going through grief, the hard of hearing community, and the National Brain Tumor Society’.
Sports Illustrated has branched out in recent years to pay tribute to strong women, with the 2018 edition dedicated to the #MeToo movement.
The groundbreaking campaign was designed to combat the objectification of women, with top models sporting empowering phrases on their bodies.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Steve Jobs’ daughter Eve signs with DNA Models after making catwalk debut
