Swimsuit

5 Stunning Photos of the Passionate and Impressive Manju in the Dominican Republic

As a Swim Search finalist, the physicist and author brought the energy during her SI Swimsuit photoshoot.

Martha Zaytoun

Manju lays on the beach in front of the ocean in a string bikini.

Manju was photographed by Yu Tsai in the Dominican Republic.

Manju was a finalist in last year’s Swim Search, the brand’s open casting call. The SI Swimsuit feature took her to the beaches of the Dominican Republic alongside photographer Yu Tsai and the dozen other Swim Search finalists. 

But the first-generation Indian American is not only a model and the 2023 Miss Oregon USA, she is a physicist, actor, writer and the founder of two non-profits. She really can do it all, and she proved as much when she took a break from her many incredible passions to pursue another: an SI Swimsuit feature.

“It is the honor of my life to be a part of the SI family,” she told us after hearing the news that she was a finalist. Her excitement was, in part, due to the feeling of acceptance that she felt from the brand. “My body, my personality, my platform, everything that I believe in has been reaffirmed by the SI family. The world is ours and we can touch any star we dream of,” she remarked, a fitting analogy for the aspiring astronaut.

We felt wholeheartedly honored, as well, by the passion she brought to her debut in the Dominican Republic. Below are a handful of our favorite photos from the trip.

Manju lounges on the beach against a stone wall in an orange bikini,
Manju stands in front of the ocean wearing a multi-colored string bikini.
Manju sits on the beach in a pale yellow bikini with front cutouts.
Manju leans back on her back on the sand in a coral bikini.
Manju stands in front of the ocean with her arms above her head in an orange bikini.

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Martha Zaytoun
MARTHA ZAYTOUN

Martha Zaytoun is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2023, she worked on the editorial board of the University of Notre Dame’s student magazine and on the editorial team at Chapel Hill, Durham and Chatham Magazines in North Carolina. When not working, Zaytoun loves to watercolor and oil paint, run and water ski. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a huge Fighting Irish fan.

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