The 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition features a number of photographs that were taken in Belize.
The 2018 SI Swimsuit edition was shot on location in Belize in November 2017, and excited locals greeted famed photographer Yu Tsai and six models, Tabria Majores, Iyonna Fairbanks, Olivia Jordan, Haley Kalil, Camille Kostek, and Allie Ayers, as they traveled across the country to shoot photos for the legendary publication.
The models were chosen following an open casting call by Sports Illustrated on Instagram. More than 5,000 women applied, but only 35 were chosen for the final round. Ultimately, only six women were chosen, including both first-time models and women with previous pageant and modeling experience.
The models were chosen to showcase women of all colors and sizes. Model Haley Kalil, age 25, won the Miss Minnesota pageant in 2014 and has graduated with honors from St. Cloud State University with a degree in biomedical sciences. She is currently married to Matt Kalil, an offensive tackle with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
Olivia Jordan, age 29, is originally from Oklahoma but now works in Los Angeles as a full-time model. She won the Miss USA pageant in 2015. Tabria Majors, age 27, was formerly a movie production assistant in Los Angeles but has been modeling full-time since 2015. Allie Ayers, age 23, is a former real estate investor who has never worked a professional model before but plans to launch a size-inclusive line of swimwear later this year.
Camille Kostek, age 25, is a former New England Patriots cheerleader. Iyonna Fairbanks, age 25, grew up in Cincinnati and now works as a security guard. Although she modeled as a teenager, she felt pressured to straighten her hair and never thought she could pursue a full-time career in modeling. She has praised Sports Illustrated for its commitment to diversity.The photos shot in Belize appear in a section of the Swimsuit Edition entitled “Beauties, Beaches, and Bikinis.” Several islands and beach locations across Belize were used for the photoshoot, including areas in and around the town of San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye. The 2018 Swimsuit Edition is the first time that the magazine has featured Belize since 1972. It is estimated than more than 23 million people will read the 2018 Swimsuit Edition.
