One-Piece Wednesday: Kyra Santoro, 2016

A Philosophical Question: Was Kyra Santoro an SI model?

She was a model search girl in 2016, but she was not selected, losing out to Mia Kang.

According to the loose style guide I’ve developed for this blog, the search contestants aren't considered official SI models (and therefore don't get a spot on the coveted “labels” list to the right) until they win — or are brought back as rookies in a later official issue, like Kyra's fellow 2016 search girl Ebonee Davis did in 2018.

However, Kyra did appear in the 2016 “Summer of Swim” thingie. In any case, in keeping with this week's theme, here’s Kyra in a couple of cute one-piecers from that summer.

That’s the Way the Rookie Crumbles 2018

There was a pretty high retention rate from 2017 to 2018. Out of seven girls, five stuck around.

Bianca was the Rookie of the Year, so she was pretty much a lock.

Danielle, who I have to admit I thought was unlikely to return, came back with a great cover.

Lais, Myla, and Vita were three of my favorites, and I love having them back.

The newly minted one-hit wonders are Kelly Gale and Mia Kang.

I never got a chance to get into Mia Kang.

But Kelly Gale is a huge loss.

Miss her already.

I Love New Pics In June, How About You?

I think I have to decide if I’m actually writing this blog again or if I’m just popping in to comment on the 2017 issue, which has now been out for three and a half months.

Anyway, it’s been a week of swimsuit news. Heidi Klum has a new book of nudes that I probably won’t buy for $134.

Though honestly, I’m kind of tempted. If it were in the price range of the hardcover books that SI Swimsuit puts out from time to time, I might just pony up for it. Seems like kind of an event.

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Also, SI Swim is creating its own line of swimwear.

That page includes a little video featuring Julie Henderson talking about her bikini, which is kind of music to my ears.

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And finally, SI has released an avalanche of new, large photos from 2017. They’re in multiple batches: Fiji, Mexico, Curaçao, and Sumba Island.

These aren’t leftovers. I prefer a lot of these to a lot from the “official” release back in February.

This pic of Hannah Ferguson is worth the price of admission.

Rookie One-Piece Wednesday

Seven rookies, listed from my most favorite to least.

Lais Ribeiro

Yep, she’s still my favorite. Still flawless.

Kelly Gale

And Kelly remains directly behind Lais. Sultry AF. Bring her back.

Myla Dalbesio

I love her body, and her photos have a lot of fun to them. I’d like to see more.

Vita Sidorkina

I didn’t expect to like her as much as I do. I thought she’d be too much of a pale blonde ice queen, but hey, I’m not immune to blondes in bikinis I guess. There’s a certain mischief to her photos.

Bianca Balti

Rookie of the Year, so she’s probably a lock for next year. There’s something classic and timeless about her, like a 1960s beauty. But I can’t seem to get entirely swept up with her.

Danielle Herrington

She had some nice, striking photos this year, but I’d predict her as least likely to return next year.

Mia Kang

She doesn’t have any one-piece suits this year, so let’s go the opposite: some strategically placed doilies.

 Though here’s a barely-one-piece suit from her model search photos last year.

I think I’d prefer any of the other models from last year’s search. Mia’s hot, but I find myself contemplating what might have been.

Last year, I was a Caroline or Ebonee guy. But now I think my favorite girl would have been Daniela Lopez.

Gorgeous, yes, but let’s call out the main point. She has perhaps the most magnificent ass to ever grace the pages of the swimsuit issue.

I wouldn’t have minded 30 or so new photos of her.

Christie’s Back

And so am I, for a little while.

We have a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model in the damn White House, which I am not happy about, but we can maybe assume she’s one of the few people who doesn’t actively loathe our Twitter-Humper in Chief.

But off the top of my head, Chrissy and Vendela are two SI girls who see right through him, so he loses. Sad!

BTW, welcome back, Chrissy.

Some big news dropped recently in the lead-up to the 2017 issue. Christie Brinkley is back, and she’s brought her two hot daughters with her.

Alexis and Sailor haven’t reached walk-on-water hotness yet.

As it happens, Alexis is also making a return appearance. This is her, accompanying Mom on a shoot for the 1989 issue.

Anyway, happy to see Christie again! She is, after all, the seventh greatest Sports Illustrated swimsuit model of all time, according to an official and unbiased observer of such things. She looks great, however much help she’s getting from angles, touchups, and the such. And her daughters have some great bikini presence.

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Another fascinating bit of news: Rookie of the Year voting is already happening, before the magazine even comes out. That’s better than last year, when the results weren’t announced until … I don’t know, about a week ago.

Anyway, here’s last year’s model search winner Mia Kang:

I think this is an awful picture of a beautiful model. Myla Dalbesio:

In her video, you can see she has a fascinating combination of a long torso with curvy hips. A much more beautiful body than that first photo might have you believe.

The blonde kewpie doll Vita Sidorkina:

Bianca Balti, who strikes me as an early draft of Emily DiDonato:

Danielle Herrington, who strikes me as an early draft of Ariel Meredith:

And then my two favorites. Kelly Gale:

…and Lais Ribeiro:

They both are breathtaking. They have platonic ideals of bikini bodies. I honestly don’t know which is my favorite, but… Well, I don’t consider myself a breast man, but they might be what gives Lais the edge for me.

I guess I’m shallow. Sue me.