7 Breathtaking Photos of Anne de Paula in the Dominican Republic
Brazilian model Anne de Paula made her SI Swimsuit debut as part of the 2017 SI Swimsuit model search, where she was photographed in the famed body paint series by Josie Clough. That year, she went on to win the fan vote and thus became a 2018 SI Swimsuit rookie.
De Paula is also a proud dog mom and splits her time between New York City and Philadelphia. In September 2020, she welcomed a son named Arthur with her longtime partner, NBA all-star Joel Embiid, in September 2020.
The Rio de Janiero native’s path to success wasn't always a smooth one. She started modeling when she was just a teen and admits that there were times when she felt discouraged and unsure of herself. Looking back, she wishes she could have given herself a pep talk and a little push in the right direction.
“At 14, I was already modeling, and a year in the business I didn’t know much of what was to come. If I could tell myself something, it would be: ‘Keep going, don’t give up,’” she said about advice she would give her younger self. “Many times I have received ‘no’ and have doubted moving out of my country and taking this chance. I am glad I kept going, but back then I could have used a friend to help motivate me and give me courage.”
Luckily, Anne found the strength to persevere and pursue her dreams, and now she's living proof that hard work and determination really do pay off. Take a look back at some of our favorites moments from her photo shoot in the Dominican Republic with Kate Powers.