Swimsuit

Berkleigh Wright Serves Fierce, Red Hot ‘Baywatch’ Vibes in Belize

The 2024 SI Swimsuit rookie blessed Instagram fans with an incredible pic from her photo shoot.

Ananya Panchal

Berkleigh Wright was photographed by Derek Kettela in Belize.
Berkleigh Wright was photographed by Derek Kettela in Belize. / Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

We love when Berkleigh Wright tosses out a new Instagram pic from her SI Swimsuit rookie photo shoot. And, lucky for us, she has an endless supply of simply breathtaking images from a feature in Belize to choose from. The Swim Search co-winner was featured in this year’s 60th anniversary issue, and she’s still not over the accomplishment.

“Baewatch @si_swimsuit,” Wright captioned her post, and tagged photographer Derek Kettela, editor in chief MJ Day and the rest of the SI Swimsuit style, hair, makeup and production team.

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Andi Bagus Rascal Bikini, $69 (andi-bagus.com) and Free People Movement Swift Windbreaker Bolero, $68 (freepeople.com)

The Kansas native, who has spent the past several years in Colorado as a cheerleader for the Denver Broncos, donned an itty-bitty red hot string bikini from Andi Bagus, paired with a sporty red-and-white bolero from Free People.

In the pic, Wright proved her impeccable modeling skills and struck a fierce pose, looking over her shoulder and showing off her slim, toned figure and bold smolder to the camera.

“I took this leap of faith because I feel that Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] is a world-class organization that embodies everything I strive to be as a woman. It extends beyond beauty: they stand for being a strong individual with depth, brains, kindness and integrity. A brand that celebrates everyone’s differences, exhibiting that our imperfections are what makes us beautiful. SI Swim helped me embrace those ideals in myself, and now I strive to imprint that mindset in others,” the 29-year-old said about her decision to apply to the open casting call. And, her leap of faith clearly worked out—her day on set was everything she dreamed of and more.

Berkleigh Wright
Berkleigh Wright was photographed by Derek Kettela in Belize. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Bolero by Free People. / Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

“Today has been just unlike anything that I could have ever imagined in my head,” Wright gushed. “We shot five looks this morning and they just all went so fast. I felt so comfortable and natural and beautiful and the support and love I got was incredible.”

View Wright’s full 2024 gallery here.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.

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