Swimsuit

8 Incredible Photos of Swim Search Finalist Manuela Alvarez Hernandez in the Bahamas

The Colombian-born model was featured in the 2019 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Cara O’Bleness

Manuela Alvarez Hernandez

Manuela Alvarez Hernandez was photographed by Yu Tsai in Nassau, Bahamas.

Manuela Alvarez Hernandez made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2019 as one of the brand’s Swim Search finalists. She posed for photographer Yu Tsai in Nassau, Bahamas.

At the time, the Colombian-born model expressed that taking part in SI Swimsuit’s open casting call had an “incredibly positive” impact on her life, and came at a time in which she was learning to love herself again.

“I was ready to give up on modeling and just focus on finishing school and getting a job. Being chosen as one of the finalists and having Sports Illustrated believe in me showed me that it wasn’t time for me to give up and that I needed to believe in myself,” Hernandez explained. “This opportunity has taught me to love myself for who I am, appreciate my Latina curves and has helped me set an example for so many girls and women out there that are trying to come into this industry without fitting into that standard mold.”

Today, Hernandez continues to work as a model and is represented by a number of agencies in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Chicago. Before entering the modeling industry full-time, Hernandez attended Florida International University’s College of Business, where she got her degree in marketing.

Below are eight of our favorite photos captured at Hernandez’s photo shoot in Paradise Island.

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Published
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.