Swimsuit

10 Jaw-Dropping Photos of 5-Time SI Swimsuit Model Danielle Herrington in Florida

The 2018 cover star wore her hair in braids in ’21 to represent her true self and inspire young girls all over the world.

Ananya Panchal

Danielle Herrington was photographed by James Macari in Hollywood, Fla.

Danielle Herrington was photographed by James Macari in Hollywood, Fla.

Danielle Herrington landed on the cover of 2018’s SI Swimsuit issue just one year after her debut and became the third Black woman to do so after Tyra Banks (1996, ’97 and 2019) and Beyoncé (2007).

Herrington’s Fiji photo shoot in 2017 was her first major modeling gig ever and she totally nailed it with the help of photographer Yu Tsai.

Herrington, who is now the mom of a 19-month-old boy, was featured in the magazine for five consecutive years. For her most recent photo shoot, she asked SI Swimsuit editor in chef MJ Day if she could wear her hair in braids. Day immediately agreed and noted that she always wants models to feel like their most confident selves while having a say in an industry that often “dictates how women can present themselves.”

Herrington’s 2021 SI Swimsuit shoot was her first time ever being photographed with braids.

“To be here really just feels like the most representative of myself and then also representative of the other young Black girls that are out there,” she said in a few interviews at the time. “The braids really take it up a notch. For my nieces to see that this is beautiful too—it just really means so much. It just looks insane. I felt great up there. This is so close to my heart and just so me.”

Below are 10 of our favorite pics from Herrington’s 2021 photo shoot with James Macari in Hollywood, Fla.

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Ananya Panchal

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a NYC-based Lifestyle & Trending News writer at SI Swimsuit. Before joining the Swim team, the Boston University Alum worked for culture & entertainment beats at Bustle, The San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When Ananya is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, she can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast.