Here Are the Historic Winners of the 2023 'SI Swimsuit' Swim Search

Chris Malone Méndez

Fri, October 20, 2023 at 5:45 PM UTC

4 min read

The winners of SI Swimsuit's 2023 Swim Search are here, and they're ready to take over the pages of next year's SI Swimsuit issue. For the first time in its history, seven models from the open casting call have been named co-winners and will share the honor of gracing the pages of the magazine's 60^th anniversary Swimsuit issue in 2024.

All of the models chosen were featured in the SI Swimsuit fashion show at Miami Swim Week earlier this year. They're much more than what we're often used to seeing in the modeling world and even in SI Swimsuit issues past.

Jena Sims, for example, follows in Katrina Scott's footsteps last year, becoming the second visibly pregnant person to be featured in SI Swimsuit. Every year, Sims puts on the Pageant of Hope, the world's most inclusive pageant focused on confidence, self-esteem, and appreciation of inner beauty for children and teens. “Helping these incredible participants from all over the world feel beautiful on the inside so closely parallels the mission behind SI Swimsuit: It’s not about the body, but who’s in that body,” she said proudly. “My passion is helping people and spreading joy. Together, I know we can make a positive impact in the world."

Nina Cash, a retired university associate dean and model, shut down the runway at the SI Swimsuit show and will light up the 2024 Swimsuit issue in her 50s. Naval contractor Brittney Nicole joins the lineup after years of looking up to SI Swimsuit trailblazer Tyra Banks. Kenyan model Achieng Agutu is ready to make the jump from Vogue to SI Swimsuit, as is Filipina American model Sharina Gutierrez.

Penny Lane, meanwhile, has dreamed of being an SI Swimsuit model since she was a teenager. "Looking back, I now realize that the power of my manifesting was at play even then, as little did I know that my dream would eventually lead to this moment," she reflected.

“All the times you failed and made mistakes are going to lead you to the biggest wins of your life," Gutierrez said of her road to success. "Don’t ever let those moments define you. You are born to be different. Don’t spend time trying to blend in. Embrace who you are and allow yourself to soar. You are going to love everything you have ever doubted yourself, because you know more than anyone who you truly are inside. Keep dreaming no matter how crazy [your dreams] may seem, because you will achieve them.”

Berkleigh Wright will be splitting her time between her jobs as a technical account manager and Denver Broncos cheerleader to appear in the SI Swimsuit 2024 issue. She hopes to inspire the younger generations with her charitable work and the exposure of the SI Swimsuit issue. "Being a member of the Sports Illustrated family and having this powerful platform would help me further myself as a mentor and reach a wider audience of our youth,” she shared.

Meet your 2023 Swim Search winners.