6 Photos From Christie Valdiserri’s Moving Photoshoot in Turks and Caicos

The Swim Search participant made the most of her trip to the tropical paradise.

Martha Zaytoun | Jul 31, 2023

Christie Valdiserri was photographed by Yu Tsai in Turks and Caicos.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

In 2020, Christie Valdiserri participated in SI Swimsuit’s Swim Search, earning her spot as a finalist in the open casting call. She traveled to the tropical islands of Turks and Caicos with photographer Yu Tsai for her photoshoot.

While on set, the model expressed that she had never anticipated neither her journey with alopecia, which caused her to lose all of her hair, nor her opportunity to be a part of the SI Swimsuit issue.

“When I was back in college, I would have never envisioned my life to be where it is now because I had hair, I envisioned myself as a blonde girl,” she told the team on set. “I initially moved to New York to pursue dance and now I live in Los Angeles and I’m bald and shooting for Sports Illustrated.”

While the experience hadn’t been a part of her plan, Valdiserri was excited for the opportunity and grateful to the SI Swimsuit team for their encouragement.

“Beauty is so much more than what you look like, and people aren’t noticing my bald look,” she said of the photoshoot experience. “They’re noticing my strength, my courage, my resilience. That’s what beauty is and that’s what you’re going to be remembered by. No one has made me feel this entire time that something has happened to me or I have a health condition or I look differently. It’s just Christie and that’s all I want.”

Valdiserri was the first bald model to pose for SI Swimsuit, bringing her joy and beauty to the pages of the 2020 issue. Below are six of our favorite photos from her inspiring feature.

Christie Valdiserri was photographed by Yu Tsai in Turks & Caicos. Swimsuit by AEXAE.

Christie Valdiserri was photographed by Yu Tsai in Turks & Caicos. Swimsuit by Dolcessa.

Christie Valdiserri was photographed by Yu Tsai in Turks & Caicos. Swimsuit by Dolcessa.

Christie Valdiserri was photographed by Yu Tsai in Turks & Caicos. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus.

Christie Valdiserri was photographed by Yu Tsai in Turks & Caicos. Swimsuit by TROPIC OF C.

Christie Valdiserri was photographed by Yu Tsai in Turks & Caicos. Swimsuit by TROPIC OF C.

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Published Jul 31, 2023

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.