Erin Heatherton Was One With Nature During Her SI Swim Photoshoot in Zanzibar

The two-time brand model was photographed by Ruven Afanador for the 2016 issue.

Ananya Panchal | Dec 20, 2023

Erin Heatherton was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Zanzibar.

Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated

Two-time SI Swimsuit model Erin Heatherton made a splash with her debut in 2015, when she posed twice for the magazine. The model, who is best known for her three years as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, was captured by Yu Tsai in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She modeled for a breathtaking beachside photoshoot, as well as a unique bodypainting feature with the help of talented makeup artist Joanne Gair.

The 34-year-old returned to the fold the following year, and traveled to Zanzibar. The Illinois native, who grew up as a super sporty child, played varsity basketball in high school. She was also a lifeguard at the local pool and presented an award at the NFL Honors in 2015, the same year as her SI Swimsuit debut.

“I never really thought about doing Sports Illustrated. And, all of a sudden I tried to focus my career on my roots and I thought that would be a really good place for me. I didn’t know anything about Sports Illustrated or Victoria’s Secret growing up. But then, obviously, I never thought of myself as someone who is sexy,” she shared. “I was raised in a very blue-collar household. I had three jobs, and if I wanted to buy clothes from the mall I had to buy them myself—and it wasn’t anything that would come from a fashion mag.”

Today, Heatherton is the cofounder of Pilates studio Resistance Chicago. She and husband Karol Kocemba got married in a gorgeous, intimate wedding ceremony earlier this year.

Below are seven gorgeous photos from her 2016 photoshoot in Zanzibar with photographer Ruven Afanador.

Erin Heatherton — Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated

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Published Dec 20, 2023

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.