ROTY Revisited: 2010, 2011

Given her mysterious absence, maybe Alexis Ren should not have gotten 2018 Rookie of the Year.

For that matter, how good have SI’s choices been in the (apparently) nine years they’ve bestowed that title?

2010: Who won?
Chrissy Teigen.

Who should have won?
It’s hard to argue with Chrissy Teigen. She had longevity (8 years) and went on to become a celebrity in her own right. She’s a rare SI model who’s become a household name outside of the SI swimsuit superfan world. She embraced and enhanced the SI brand.

Genevieve Morton might be my runner-up.

She had 6 years of her own, and she seemed to love being swimsuited (and naked).

• • •

2011: Who won?
Kate Upton.

Who should have won?
Kate Upton. Obviously.

For sheer star-power and sex appeal, Kate Upton is a no-brainer. Chrissy has her fingers in a lot of pies (Twitter/cooking/celeb marriage), but Kate’s the last SI model who (I believe) has reached her fame specifically as an SI model.

Runner-up? Well, I have my weak spot for Kenza Fourati.

But Kate Upton is a no-brainer.


So, after the better part of a decade has gone by, we see that the first couple years of ROTY selection were batting a thousand. Will that streak continue?