Chanel Iman Posed in the Sand With Multiple Lemurs During Her SI Swim Debut in Madagascar

The supermodel first posed for the brand in 2014, working with photographer Derek Kettela.

Ananya Panchal | Aug 26, 2024

Chanel Iman was photographed by Derek Kettela in Madagascar. / Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Chanel Iman made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2014, on the breathtaking sandy beaches and shores of Madagascar, where she posed for Derek Kettela. This year, the 33-year-old reunited with the photographer in Belize where she donned in numerous stunning, classy, all-white looks and made her supermodel status clear for the publication’s special 60th anniversary issue.

“When I think about Sports Illustrated Swim, I think about timeless, classic, effortless photos of beautiful women that inspire,” Iman shared while on location of her 2024 photo shoot. “Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] is one of the reasons why I wanted to be a model. I’ve had some pretty incredible shoots and travels [with the brand]. I’ve been to Madagascar, Zanzibar and I’ve shot in Utah as well. And every photo shoot has been completely different. Some of the most beautiful photos that I’ve ever shot in my life have been captured with SI Swim.”

The Atlanta-born, Los Angeles native, is a mom to two older girls, Cali and Cassie. She also welcomed her first baby, Capri, with husband and NFL defensive tackle, Davon Godchaux, last September. The couple got engaged in the Italian city after which they named their little girl last May, and tied the knot on a yacht in the Caribbean sea this February.

Iman said her little girls are her “world” and is raising them to know how beautiful, worthy and capable they are. She hopes she can be a role model for her daughters, and other young women, and use her platform and voice to encourage and advocate for diversity in the industry.

Below are six stunning pics from Iman’s 2014 SI Swimsuit debut in Madagascar, where she posed with adorable lemurs.

Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated

Published Aug 26, 2024

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.