8 Incredibly Scenic SI Swim Photos of Tanya Mityushina in Malta

The Russian model was a featured rookie in the 2016 magazine.

Cara O’Bleness | Oct 19, 2023

Tanya Mityushina was photographed by Ben Watts in Malta.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Russian model Tanya Mityushina posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2016, when she traveled to Malta with photographer Ben Watts. While in the European country for the feature, Mityushina donned a number of incredible string bikinis and fun swimwear looks that really stood out against the breathtaking coastal backdrop.

“Shooting with SI was the best experience ever, they are such nice, kind people and we had so much fun!” she told Frankies Bikinis that fall. “The magazine really changed my career.”

In addition to her SI Swimsuit feature seven years ago, Mityushina, who was discovered at the age of 17, has also worked with notable brands like Victoria’s Secret and Intimissimi. And in an interview with Sports Illustrated Now, Mityushina reiterated what a great time she had while on location with the SI Swimsuit team.

“It was an incredible experience,” she stated. “I didn’t sleep the whole night before [the photoshoot] … I didn’t know what to expect from the shoot, and when I arrived, everyone was so supporting. I really love working with that team. I think it was the best shoot I’ve ever had.”

The 30-year-old was clearly over the moon about her rookie feature in the magazine, and took the time to not only thank her supporters when she announced her feature on Instagram in February 2016, but also her detractors: “Thanks to everyone who believed in me and who didn’t believe in me, you all took me where I am now,” she wrote at the time.

Below are a few of our favorite SI Swimsuit snapshots of Mityushina in Malta.

Tanya Mityushina — Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

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Published Oct 19, 2023

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara O’Bleness is a writer and editor on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Prior to joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she 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, O’Bleness 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.