Swimsuit

Berkleigh Wright’s New Modeling Digitals Are Beyond Breathtaking

The former SI Swimsuit model and retired NFL cheerleader traveled to NYC for an epic studio 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

Berkleigh Wright’s new modeling digitals are jaw-droppingly good, capturing her at her most confident and chic.

In the cover slide of her latest IG post, the 31-year-old, who celebrated her birthday just a few weeks ago, wore a sleek crisscross halter-neck black gown that hugged her long, lean figure to perfection. Her blonde hair was slicked back into a bun, and her smoldering gaze stole the show.

The Kansas native then switched gears with a dark denim set—an oversized indigo jacket paired with wide-leg jeans, tastefully cuffed to reveal a lighter inner layer. She buttoned the top half of the collared outerwear, leaving the bottom undone to flaunt her toned midriff. White crew socks, black loafers and pin-straight locks finished off the ultra-clean, crisp and cool Canadian tuxedo moment.

For a more editorial edge, Wright then rocked a puff-sleeve sheer black bodysuit styled with black tights and chunky silver earrings. In a later snap, she added a massive black coat as she struck a dramatic floor pose. She returned to denim-on-denim for a final look, this time layering it with a breezy white linen button-down and unbuttoning everything for a sultry undone aesthetic.

“NY, NY📍,” she captioned the series, shot by photographed Lena Melnik.

“Perfect dream girl,” one fan commented.

“My supermodel ❤️,” another wrote.

“Goddess angel queen,” someone else added.

“Showing this to my plastic surgeon,” one user joked.

“Oh wow these are gorgeous,” another fan gushed.

Fellow SI Swim stars joined in, too. Sharina Gutierrez chimed, “Love love love,” while two-time brand star Sixtine exclaimed, “These are stunning Berk!”

Wright has been building momentum since she moved from Colorado to Los Angeles last year, leaving behind her long run as a Denver Broncos cheerleader to focus on modeling full-time. Alongside her glamorous gigs, she continues her role as a technical account manager at Oracle—proof she can do it all.

Her journey skyrocketed when she co-won SI Swimsuit’s 2023 Swim Search open casting call, earning her rookie spot in the 2024 issue, where she posed for Derek Kettela in Belize for the special 60th anniversary issue last May. Wright’s work with the magazine has been transformative, helping her embrace her individuality and radiate the confidence she’s now known for.

“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,” she has said. “It extends beyond beauty: they stand for being a strong individual with depth, brains, kindness and integrity.”

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

Off-camera, Wright is an avid book lover and wellness enthusiast. She’s also dating Buffalo Bills punter Sam Martin, a relationship fans love to follow online.

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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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