Swimsuit

8 Incredible Photos of Model and Fitness Instructor Erin Heatherton in Zanzibar

The 2015 SI Swimsuit rookie returned to the fold the following year for an incredible feature on the archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

Cara O’Bleness

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Zanzibar.

Erin Heatherton is perhaps best known for her work as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, as she walked the runway for the brand for three years, starting in 2010. She made her SI Swimsuit debut five years later, when she traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a beachside photoshoot, as well as a unique bodypaint feature with photographer Yu Tsai and makeup artist Joanne Gair. 

The 34-year-old returned to the fold in 2016, when she posed for Ruven Afanador in Zanzibar. Heatherton has also modeled for other notable fashion brands like Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger. In addition to her work as a model, Heatherton has broken into the fitness world. She is the cofounder of Resistance Chicago, a boutique Pilates studio where she also serves as an instructor.

“Being a model, it’s been a long journey,” Heatherton noted the year of her SI Swimsuit debut in ’15. “I’ve been modeling since 2006. I was scouted for modeling when I was visiting the University of Miami. It was my junior year of high school and it was my first plane ride. My second plane ride was to New York after I was scouted, and I can’t even imagine not doing this right now.”

She also noted that being featured in the SI Swimsuit Issue was the highlight of her career.

“I’ve never had such a positive, uplifting experience than my shoot with Sports Illustrated,” Heatherton stated. “When you feel appreciated, you feel loved, you can really shine.”

While Heatherton shines no matter where she is, below are eight of our favorite pics from her SI Swimsuit feature in Zanzibar.

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Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, Cara loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University's School of Journalism.