5 Awe-Inspiring Photos of 2024 SI Swimsuit Rookie Penny Lane in Portugal

The Swim Search co-winner worked with photographer Ben Watts and is set to appear in this year’s 60th anniversary issue.

Ananya Panchal | Jan 9, 2024

Penny Lane.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Certified holistic health coach Penny Lane is a rookie in this year’s SI Swimsuit Issue, the magazine’s 60th-anniversary edition. The English model, who applied to the Swim Search open casting call and was named a finalist and co-winner last year, said she didn’t really process the accomplishment and excitement until she was on location of her 2024 photoshoot.

The 29-year-old traveled to Porto and the North, Portugal, to work with photographer Ben Watts and the rest of the SI Swimsuit team, and she says the day was truly unlike any other.

“It’s been, honestly, this whole experience up until this point, I haven’t believed it. It still feels like it’s sinking in today. And the first shot that we got, I think I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is actually real, it’s happening and I’ve actually done it,’” she says, adding that she manifested the opportunity more than a decade ago. “It’s a really amazing experience to feel like I’ve come throughout this whole journey to this point now. It’s been [an] incredible journey up to this point. It means so much to me. I’m just filled with gratitude.”

Lane, who has lived in 64 places over the last nine years, uses her platform to raise awareness for mental health issues, inspire other women to love themselves and shift the narrative around unrealistic body standards.

Below are five stunning photos from her 2024 SI Swimsuit rookie photoshoot.

Penny Lane Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2024 Rookie — Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Penny Lane was photographed by Ben Watts in Portugal. Top by COSTAIIA. Bottoms by Navy Ray.

Read more about Penny Lane’s 2024 SI Swimsuit rookie photoshoot here.

Published Jan 9, 2024

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.