Go Behind the Scenes With Suni Lee for Her SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot

The 21-year-old Olympic gymnast will be making her SI Swimsuit debut.

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

It’s officially shoot season for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s 2025 issue and we’re so excited to share our incredible lineup of models. At the start of the month, our team jetted off to Boca Raton, Fla. to shoot with photographer Ben Horton, where professional golfer Nelly Korda posed on Nov. 2 in fabulous suits. We’re now onto day 2, where two-time Olympian Sunisa “Suni” Lee is currently getting ready to make her debut. The 21-year-old from Saint Paul, Minn. is truly a force to be reckoned with, becoming the first Asian American woman to win Olympic gold in the individual all-around competition at the 2020 games.

Lee helped the U.S. team reach gold at the 2024 Olympics, and she also won two bronze medals in individual competitions. In addition to her Olympic accolades, she competed in the NCAA for the Auburn Tigers gymnastics team and has inspired many by partnering with the American Kidney Fund after being diagnosed with kidney disease. Needless to say, Lee is a fantastic role model for women athletes and we couldn’t be happier to welcome her to the SI Swimsuit brand.

As Lee’s shoot preparations begin today, we’re giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at her day on set, from picking out swimsuits to getting the perfect shot and so many exciting moments in between. You can also follow along with the gymnast’s day on the SI Swimsuit Instagram page. We updated this post live as Lee shared teases of her day.

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot Wearing St. Agni Suit / SI Staff

Our first tease of the day comes along with the SI Swimsuit Instagram’s announcement of Lee’s debut, showing us the athlete looking gorgeous in a St. Agni brown two-piece. Her hair is styled in loose curls—perfect for her poolside vibe—and her makeup is simple yet timeless with wispy lashes and a very light pink lip. Her nails are manicured with a French tip style, which matches every look.

On the Instagram post, Lee received multiple comments from fellow SI Swimsuit models. “SO GOOD!🤌🏼✨,” Olivia Dunne wrote, while Kamie Crawford exclaimed, “YAAASSSSSSSSSS!!!! Welcome to the fam queen @sunisalee🩷.”

Xandra Pohl chimed in, “ommggg yessss ❤️❤️❤️,” and Jena Sims added: “Loving these reveals 😍.”

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

Lee took over the SI Swimsuit Instagram story to introduce herself, urging her fans to follow along. We also got some behind-the-scenes looks at the athlete in the moments leading up to the start of the shoot, showing her in a robe and the brown two-piece getting her “finishing touches” done:

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

It's officially time to take some photos! Lee posed in the St. Agni brown two-piece in a lounge chair poolside, looking as glamorous as ever. The sunny Florida weather makes for a fantastic backdrop as does the tropical outdoor area. Lee looks like a natural in front of the camera:

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

Ahead of the next location, Lee showed off her black Sports Illustrated Swimsuit robe, complete with her name embroidered on the front, enjoyed some lunch and took a photo break to be interviewed on camera. Our Instagram story then teased that they’d be headed to the beach next.

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

Suni Lee’s SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Boca Raton, Fla. / Instagram / @si_swimsuit

Next up from Lee’s updates, we got a fun reel posted on Instagram (also shared to Facebook below) seeing the Olympian show off a sparkly red, white and blue leotard before tossing it to the side, wearing her SI Swimsuit robe and something yellow underneath. Could it be her next swimsuit of the day? Possibly! Lee used the sound “Another day, another slay, period” for the video, which couldn’t be more perfect. “Leo out, swimsuits in. 👙,” the video was captioned. “Trust us, we’re just as excited to show you these looks as you are to see them. 😉 Stay tuned!”

Leo out, swimsuits in. 👙 Trust us, we’re just as excited to show you these looks as you are to see them. 😉 Stay tuned!

Posted by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit on Sunday, November 3, 2024

Check back with us for more updates on Lee’s photo shoot.

Next. Suni Lee Intro. Everything to Know About Suni Lee, SI Swimsuit Athlete. dark