Swimsuit

10-Time SI Swim Star Anne V Posed Amid the Magnificent Waterfalls of Guilin, China

The Russian model has traveled everywhere with the magazine, from the Bahamas and Russia to Turkey and Jamaica.

Ananya Panchal

Anne V

Anne V was photographed by Derek Kettela in Guilin, China.

Anne V made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2005 and returned every year for a decade—making her a franchise legend with a total of 10 consecutive magazine appearances.

She starred in a gorgeous sports-inspired body painting shoot for her debut and double dipped for another feature in the Bahamas. In her sophomore year she was photographed by Steve Erle in Hollywood, Calif. In 2007, the Russian-American super model was captured three times for the magazine.

Over her time with SI Swimsuit the former Victoria’s Secret model has traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, Cappadocia, Turkey Portugal, Fiji, Desroches Island, Seychelles and Barreirinhas, Brazil.

“I’ve been with them for so many years that, in a way, they’ve become my family. They still love [me] and they still think that I’m not too old to shoot it. I was eighteen [when I started]. But it’s really been such an honor, because modeling, what we do is — there’s not so many clients that are so loyal. It’s just nice to have someone so supportive throughout the years,” she gushed to Esquire after her ninth SI Swim shoot in Guilin, China. “I started as a high-fashion model, but I’d always wanted to do Sports Illustrated, and I’d been asking my agency for a long time, and they finally sent me on a casting. Once Sports Illustrated asked me to do a shoot, it felt like a validation in a way. Yes, you can be that girl. For me, it was really a huge thing of becoming a woman. I’d never done bathing suits before. I had no idea how to be sexy. They really make us feel special.”

Today, the 37-year-old is a certified yoga instructor who leads meditations and teaches classes twice a week at the RA MA studio in New York City.

Below are six of our favorite photos from her 2013 featured with Derek Kettela in Guilin, China.

Anne V
Anne V
Anne V
Anne V
Anne V
Anne V

Now through Nov. 1, 100% of SI Swimsuit’s portion of proceeds from cover prints purchased here will be donated to the Maui Strong Fund, which is helping to support the people and places of Maui affected by the recent wildfires.

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Ananya Panchal

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a NYC-based Lifestyle & Trending News writer at SI Swimsuit. Before joining the Swim team, the Boston University Alum worked for culture & entertainment beats at Bustle, The San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When Ananya is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, she can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast.