Swimsuit

Christen Harper’s Rookie SI Swim Photoshoot in Barbados Is the Ultimate Tropical Travel Inspo

The three-time brand model and Swim Search co-winner was photographed by Ben Watts for the 2022 issue.

Ananya Panchal

Christen Harper

Christen Harper was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. 

Three-time SI Swimsuit model Christen Harper applied to the Swim Search in 2021. It was something she had wanted to do for a really long time and in that moment it just felt right to chase her dreams.

The Southern California native, who now splits her time between Los Angeles and Detroit, where her fiancé Jared Goff is an NFL quarterback for the Lions, was named co-winner of the open casting call that year, after her photoshoot in Atlantic City. She went on to become co-Rookie of the Year in ’22 following her breathtaking beach feature in Barbados.

“Sports Illustrated has been a lifetime goal of mine since I was a young girl. For so many years, I hoped to get a casting in New York with SI but I never quite got there, so I decided SI Swim Search was the perfect way to take things into my own hands and go after my biggest dream. I would always be so excited for the issue to come out and count down the days until I could pick it up,” she recalled. “I remember rushing to the newsstand to pick up a copy after school and reading the magazine from front to back about 100 times like it was my job. My favorite and most memorable cover was the 2011 issue with Irina Shayk—I had it taped to my school binder so I could look at it every single day.”

Today, the 30-year-old is focused on giving back and volunteering with young women in her community. She is in the process of co-launching a wellness app called Planted  that helps people approach healthy and sustainable living in a holistic way.

Earlier this year, Harper, who was captured by Amanda Pratt in Dominica for the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue, designed a line of swimwear with B Swim founder Elizabeth Turner, and starred in YouTube reality series Women of the League.

Below are six stunning photos from her rookie SI Swimsuit photoshoot with Ben Watts in Barbados.

Christen Harper

Christen Harper was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Solid & Striped. Vintage earrings.

Christen Harper

Christen Harper was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Neena Swim. Hat by Lack of Color Accessories. Earrings by Mahrukh Akuly.

Christen Harper

Christen Harper was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Polo Ralph Lauren. Earrings by Mejuri.

Christen Harper

Christen Harper was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Toxic Sadie Swimwear. Hat by Lack of Color Accessories. Shoes by Converse.

Christen Harper

Christen Harper was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Daze Dayz. Earrings by Mejuri.

Christen Harper

Christen Harper was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Sage Swim. Necklaces by SOKO and Phoenix and Roze.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.

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