8 Photos of Barbara Palvin That Prove Why She Was Named Rookie of the Year

The Hungarian model was featured in the SI Swimsuit Issue four years in a row.

Cara O’Bleness | Oct 31, 2023

Barbara Palvin was photographed by James Macari in Turks and Caicos.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

Barbara Palvin made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2016, when the Hungarian model traveled to Turks and Caicos for a photoshoot with James Macari. She returned to the fold the next three consecutive years, and her work with the brand took her to Curaçao, the Bahamas and Costa Rica.

The 30-year-old model’s rookie feature in the tropical nation was a stunning beachside feature in which Palvin donned a number of colorful looks, from bright bikinis to bold one-pieces with cut-outs.

“I was super happy,” the model told Yahoo! News at the time. “It’s a huge thing in my career. It’s going to change a lot—like everything’s going to change—after this comes out. And you know, it’s an honor.”

Little did she know that her feature in Turks and Caicos would earn her Rookie of the Year honors. In addition to her work with SI Swimsuit, Palvin is known for her collaborations with Victoria’s Secret, and she’s also modeled for notable brands like Armani Exchange and H&M. Today, Palvin is represented by Ford Models and works as a brand ambassador for Armani Beauty.

“They really support feminine women,” Palvin added of the SI Swimsuit brand. “And now [with] Ashley Graham [the magazine’s 2016 cover model], I think it’s amazing what she stands for and what Sports Illustrated did. I think she is an amazing choice.”

Below, we’re throwing it back to just a few of our favorite snapshots from Palvin’s stunning rookie photoshoot in Turks and Caicos.

Barbara Palvin — James Macari/Sports Illustrated

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Published Oct 31, 2023

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.