SI Swimsuit Models Reveal Their Most Embarrassing Moments

Photo shoots, castings and catwalks don't always go off smoothly.

When we look at images of models in magazines, everything seems so picture perfect. That's especially true for SI Swimsuit models as they're typically in stunning exotic locations exuding total confidence with perfect beachy hair. But even the most seasoned pros have slip-ups from time to time and are left red-cheeked. We asked some of SI Swimsuit models to reveal some of those most embarrassing moments.

Haley Kalil's Monkey Mishap

"This actually happened on an SI Swimsuit shoot! -- I was shooting my video adventure day in Kenya for my rookie year,” says Haley Kalil, who will be making her fourth SI Swimsuit Issue appearance in 2021. “We had gone to these gorgeous ruins, and I was fascinated by the incredible remains of the past. Then, out of nowhere, monkeys were everywhere! The tour guide asked me if I wanted to feed them and, of course, I said yes because I love monkeys. So, I was feeding a banana to one monkey while being recorded on multiple cameras when another monkey jumped out of nowhere and pulled my strapless top right off my body in front of all the cameras and products. I was mortified but also couldn't stop laughing. So a monkey took off my top on set. That's a first."

Camille Kostek's Trampoline Trouble

"I was doing an athletic shoot that required me to perform a lot of workout moves over and over again and intensive dance leaps,” says 2019 cover model Camille Kostek. “One of the stunts I did off of a mini-trampoline. I jumped up into a split leap and landed right onto my ankle, and sprained it real bad.I get so embarrassed when people gather around to make sure you're O.K. and I don't like to cry in front of people. I was full of tears and pain and truly embarrassed because we had just been laughing and having, then I lost my footing and changed the mood. We reminisce on it now because the jump before the fall ended up making the campaign!"

Myla Dalbesio's Dinner Disaster

"I fell over in the middle of the welcome dinner in Miami in 2019 -- everyone turned around and stared at me,” recalls Myla Dalbesio, who has made three SI Swimsuit appearances. “It was tragic. Thank god that sweet angel Tara Lynn was there to pull me up and put me back in my chair."

Kate Bock's Dancing Debacle

"There is a casting space in Paris where you go and put yourself on tape so that if you're out of town, they can still send you to a client,” explains 2020 cover model Kate Bock. “They have you do all sorts of different scenarios to make sure you're covered for a skincare casting, haircare or a commercial. I was in there, and the casting director told me he would put on some classical music for me to do an interpretive dance. I am no dancer! I went with it, did my best impression of a dancer, and laughed inside my head the entire time. I hope one day that tape surfaces for all to see."

Lais Ribeiro's Catwalk Calamity

"I'd say [my most embarrassing moment] was when I twisted my ankle on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway in 2013 and couldn't walk the show,” says four-time SI Swimsuit vet Lais Ribeiro. “For me, though, it wasn't so much of an embarrassment as it was a big disappointment."

Emily DiDonato's Identity Issue

"One of my most embarrassing modeling moments was when I rolled up to a shoot, and no one had any idea who I was for a very long period of time,” admits Emily DiDonato, who made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2013. “Then I was like, ‘Oh my God, they don't realize I'm the model.’ I should have said, 'I'm Emily the model' because no one knows that based on how I look at 5 a.m. when I’ve just rolled out of bed."