6 Breathtaking Images of Italian Model Bianca Balti in Aruba

The 2017 Rookie of the Year returned for her second year in the Swimsuit Issue.

SI Staff | Mar 6, 2023

Bianca Balti

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Bianca Balti‘s modeling career began at the age of 20 when she was looking for a way to earn extra money while attending college. Little did she know that modeling would eventually become her full-time profession. Fast forward to today, the now 34-year-old Italian beauty boasts an impressive portfolio of runway shows for high-end designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Hermès, and Christian Dior, just to name a few. Balti is a mother to two daughters and has even designed her own swimsuit line.

In 2017, Balti was awarded the coveted “Rookie of the Year” title from SI Swimsuit after being photographed on Sumba Island by James Macari.

Despite her success after her first photo shoot with the brand, Balti still felt the pressure heading into her second year with SI Swimsuit. “I was nervous just because I’m so aware that I’m creating memories for myself forever, but I wanted to be fantastic because it’s so iconic to me,” she explained.

Despite her anxieties, the results were stunning. Speaking about her experience on set, Balti admitted, “It’s always a surprise for me to look at the screen and see myself because that’s not how I feel. I feel really goofy…I love this job because it gives me the opportunity to play dress up. If I was not a model and not [doing this] I would have never had the chance to see this side of me.”

Take a look back at some of our favorite photos from her 2018 photo shoot in Aruba, captured by the talented photographer Yu Tsai.