Free-Hip Friday: Danielle Herrington, 2018

Thumb-Hook Thursday: Rebecca Romijn, 1999

This might be the only painted-on thumb-hook in SI history.

One-Piece Wednesday: Returning Legends

Let's toast the titans over the years who returned triumphantly to the swimsuit issue to show a new generation of models how to rock a one-piece.

Cheryl, 1995

Elle, 2006

Heidi, 2014

Tyra, 2019

Paulina, 2019

Topless Tuesday: Hailey Clauson, 2016

Underboob Monday: Emily DiDonato, 2015

ROTY Revisited: 2019

2019: Who won?
Who knows!

Apparently voting has closed, but I can’t find anything about a winner. Maybe it has to do with SI being sold, but there’s not a real concerted effort to promote the magazine this year. There were a lot of whistles and bells, but not a lot of effective hype for the actual product.

Swim Daily is pretty much on autopilot.

It feels a bit like the swimsuit issue might be dissolving before our eyes. Does that sound too melodramatic?

There’s the fact that this year the issue was delayed from its standard mid-February release, with no real explanation. There’s the gimmicks, which could, depending on how on-board and good-faith you are, be seen as desperate. There’s the hugely popular 2018 Rookie of the Year not coming back for 2019.

Then this year’s hype, such as it was, has just kind of sputtered out.

Maybe what everyone says is turning out to be true. In a world where titillation of any intensity is available for free through your nearest screen, the swimsuit issue is a relic. There aren’t enough people like me who have the brand loyalty.

(And for what it’s worth, I haven’t bought a physical copy of the magazine for over a decade. I collect the desk calendars and occasionally grab a commemorative coffee table book. But that’s the only money they get from even me, a superfan.)

So assuming they actually announce a Rookie of the Year for 2019, and assuming there’s a 2020 issue for her to return to …

Who should win?
I am intrigued by Kelsey Merritt. She’s absolutely beautiful. I don’t remember hearing anything about her in the hype (such as it was) leading up to 2019.

I know nothing about her, but those eyes are intoxicating.

The freckles. The freckles are good.

The rest of her? Also lovely.

I’m impressed by Camille and Haley, the two contest winners who’ve had their official coming-out.

But Kelsey is the one who’s stuck in my mind. ’Til we meet again, Kelsey?

ROTY Revisited: 2016, 2017

2016: Who won?
Barbara Palvin.

Who should have won?
Barbara Palvin. I can’t argue with her at all. But if pressed for a runner-up, I’d pick Bo Krsmanovic, who does similar things to my heart and mind.

• • •

2017: Who won?
Bianca Balti.

Who should have won?
Lais Ribiero. This is one of the few where I have an ironclad correction for SI: Lais is one of the most gorgeous women to appear in SI this century.

Kelly Gale would have also been a magnificent choice, and I’m still bummed she was a one-and-done.

But yeah. Lais. All the way.

• • •

This was actually illuminating for me. I expected to have more instances of strong disagreement with SI's choices, but they were by and large pretty solid.

I also had this idea that ROTYs don't last for very many issues, but that's not necessarily true either. By my calculations, the average ROTY stint is about 4.2 years, whereas the entire rookie class during that nine-year period sticks around for about 2.3 years.

So, who's the Rookie of the Year for 2019? No idea!