Exclusive: Olivia Culpo Is Joining the Symphony

Olivia Culpo is a swimsuit model and former Miss Universe who isn’t afraid to give everything for the perfect bikini shot. She is also a trained classical musician who has won numerous awards for her work on the cello. In fact, Olivia Culpo will soon perform with the Charlotte Symphony for the first time.

Olivia Culpo attends the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit celebration of the launch of the 2021 Issue at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.Getty Images

Olivia is an Insanely Good Cello Player

Olivia Culpo is a model. Olivia Culpo is an NFL good luck charm (NFL star Christian McCaffrey is her boyfriend). Olivia Culpo is… a classical music virtuoso?

Actually, yeah.

Today at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue launch party, the 29-year-old Taurus revealed she has a new job on the horizon. “I definitely will perform with an orchestra onstage,” Culpo said, sharing she’s currently in talks with the Charlotte Symphony in North Carolina.

“I’ve been practicing my cello constantly—constantly!—as part of a quartet with some friends, who are Julliard graduates and studio musicians in LA.” Culpo has won numerous awards for her string performances, even winning a place in the Boston Youth Orchestra as a teen. “I’m so excited to go back to [classical music] but I wouldn't be doing a solo by any means,” she laughs. “I would just be in the orchestra. But yeah, it will be very cool.”

Ben Watts

Olivia Practices Mind Over Matter When Shooting in Freezing Water

Fortunately, it won’t be very cold… though Culpo has experience with that, too. “I’m from Rhode Island, so you’d think I know cold beaches,” she says, “But I have to tell you, my first big Sports Illustrated shoot was in freezing cold water in South Australia. We did it during the winter, and look, if you have goosebumps, you will see them in photos no matter what. There’s nothing you can do about that! 

"But the way to pose in cold water and not get sick is, you have to really steel yourself mentally and pretend you’re in a hot bath. You have to really harness the power of your imagination, and if you think ‘hot’ thoughts even if you’re freezing, it works out well… although your nipples will be very hard the whole time,” she laughs.

Olivia Culpo attends the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit celebration of the launch of the 2021 Issue at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Getty Images

Olivia Loves Being a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model

Still, Culpo swears a few shivers “won’t ever” stop her from posing for a swimsuit spread. “I love Sports Illustrated so much,” she says. “I love everything It stands for. I love every way that they evolve with the times and make really profound statements through the people they give their amazing, amazing platform to. I’ll do anything to be a part of that! Even freeze a little.”

Click here to see more of Olivia Culpo.