Swimsuit

4 Jaw-Dropping Photos of Cris Urena in Barely-There Bodypaint in St. Lucia

The SI Swimsuit model participated in two features for the 2014 issue.

Ananya Panchal

Cris Urena

Cris Urena was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in St. Lucia.

SI Swimsuit alumna Cris Urena double-dipped during her debut with the magazine in 2014. The Dominican Republic-born model, who grew up in Massachusetts, was photographed twice by Walter Iooss Jr. in St. Lucia: once in a series of fun, colorful and groovy swimsuits, and again in nothing but bodypaint.

With the help of artist Joanne Gair, Urena donned a yellow-and-white checkered one-piece that left half her torso, chest, shoulders and arms completely bare except for two suspender-style painted-on straps.

The 32-year-old entered the industry in 2011, when her friends secretly submitted photos of her to modeling agencies in New York City. In just a few months, she signed with an agency and landed in the pages of a Victoria’s Secret catalogue. Urena has since starred in campaigns for Ralph Lauren, MAC Cosmetics, Topshop and DKNY.

The mom of three shares her kids with husband Matthew Hechter. She attended nursing school and worked as a part-time medical assistant before switching to full-time modeling.

“I wanted to scream,” Urena recalled about when she got the news of her SI Swimsuit gig. “Sports Illustrated takes every girl’s career to another level. It opens opportunities and allows people to get to know you worldwide. I just want my career to keep growing, make a name and a brand for myself from all the opportunities I have been able to have with this career. [I want to just] take it further.”

Below are four daring photos from her 2014 bodypaint photoshoot in St. Lucia.

Cris Urena
Cris Urena
Cris Urena
Cris Urena

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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.