Sports Illustrated has finally unveiled its swimsuit issue for 2022, featuring a star-studded roster donning summer’s coveted bikinis and one-pieces. The covers feature big names like Ciara and Kim Kardashian, but the magazine’s rookie models for 2022 are the ones to watch, including Duckie Thot, Christen Harper, Katie Austin, Georgina Burke, Olivia Ponton and Cindy Kimberly, known online. like @wolfiecindy.
The 23-year-old Spanish-Indonesian model made her modeling debut in 2015 through Justin Bieber, who posted a photo of her on his Instagram. Since her sudden rise to fame herself, the Amsterdam native has kept herself busy over the years and since then she has graced magazine editorials, walked runways and appeared in music videos.
Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty ImagesAlexander Tamargo/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty ImagesGotham/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Seven years later, Kimberly appears in this year’s SI Swimsuit in a series of skimpy swimsuits with Barbados as the backdrop, but pulling it off was no easy feat for the model.
“I had this list of goals in my career, including that I wanted to start modeling and I’ve been a fan of [Sports Illustrated] From the beginning. I would look up to people like Barbara Palvin even during my Tumblr days, but I never thought it was possible for me,” Kimberly tells NYLON over the phone. “Being in SI has been on my bucket list for a long time, but it was one of those crazy goals that I put at the end and hope it happens. When I got the job, even my mom remembered when she used to be super annoying and watch the old rookie videos in the past.”
See Cindy Kimberly’s front page of the 2022 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, photographed by Ben Watts, as she talks with NYLON about her experience as the magazine’s latest rookie, favorite swimsuit trends and more, more ahead.
On newsstands May 19. Yu Tsai/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
What was it like being on the set of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue?
It was honestly the most comfortable team I’ve ever worked with. I think when you’re shooting for swimming or modeling in general, it can be a very vulnerable environment. But since most of the people working on set were women, I had this big sister energy where everyone made me feel so confident and secure, which really allowed me to be myself and have fun. A lot of times when you’re modeling you’re expected to play a character for other people, but I felt like this photo shoot was about me, and that made it feel very special.
What have been some of your favorite memories with YES so far?
I know when you talk about something it sounds so good it almost seems fake, but it was actually amazing. We shot in Barbados, and I’m obviously a huge Rihanna fan, so they put together a full day where I got to go to Rihanna’s favorite childhood haunts and her favorite restaurant, which was great. I definitely feel like I would never have had enough confidence to do this kind of thing. Rihanna was one of my role models growing up, so it all felt like a full circle for me.
Also, the day of the test before the session was special because I felt that he was really prepared for me. Usually when you do a shoot, you can’t choose everything you want and it can feel like they want to fit you into a mold, but this time, I feel like this shoot was a mold made for me. , which is something I hadn’t really felt before.
It must be so stressful to go on set many times as a model. Do you have any special ritual or routine that you do before each session?
I try to stay mostly in the same routine, so I usually write a journal every morning and I like to say my affirmations. Especially when you’re doing something as vulnerable as a swimsuit photo shoot, I write down my affirmations and make sure to remind myself that my body is not what others want it to be and that it’s a blessing to have a body that takes He takes care of me and allows me to experience life. Just reminding myself to be thankful in every way and accept myself in whatever way I am is probably the only thing I feel is the most important thing to prepare for something like this.
With summer just around the corner, what are some swimwear trends you’ll be rocking this season?
I think the cutouts are going to be really great, especially the ones with different and intricate designs. But I also think it depends on the preferences of the person because I love the bandeau, as it is what suits me. My friends love triangle bikini tops and I’m like, ‘That doesn’t look good.’ There are definitely so many brands that I find interesting, but I love surfing the internet and there are so many young people now that are doing a lot of cool things like crocheting and starting their own small businesses, so I really like being involved. in that. They really are pouring all their love into their work and I think that’s mostly what I’ll be wearing this year.
Speaking of summer, do you have any plans you’re looking forward to?
I want to go to Italy with my mom. I really want to go to Venice, as if it were my dream. But I really want to go back home and spend a summer at home in Spain. I think after not living in Spain for two years I really underestimated how great the European summer is and now I understand why everyone in the US wants to come to Europe for the summer. I used to think: ‘Why are there so many people here? America sounds much more interesting. But now I get it, so I want to go home for the summer.
Do you have any other exciting projects in the works so far? What are some other paths besides modeling that you are looking to get into?
I have a clothing line coming out soon. I think after so many years of wanting to make music and a lot of time trying to take care of myself and my mom post-COVID, it has cleared things up a bit and I’m finally starting to work on music, which is what I want. wanted to do since I was very young. I go where the wind takes me. In fact, I also want to make my own swimwear line. I used to make my own swimsuit when I was younger by ripping up my mom’s old clothes, so I think I’m finally going to give it a try this year.
This interview has been edited and summarized for clarity.
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