Hailey Clauson Embraces Bright Swimwear in These 5 Pics From Turks and Caicos

It’s no wonder why the SI Swimsuit legend landed the cover of the 2016 issue.

Cara O’Bleness | Aug 27, 2024

Hailey Clauson was photographed by James Macari in Turks and Caicos. / James Macari/Turks and Caicos

The year after her SI Swimsuit debut, Hailey Clauson traveled to Turks and Caicos with photographer James Macari for a vibrant waterfront photo shoot. The 29-year-old California native splashed through the waves and posed on the sand, earning herself one of three covers of the 2016 SI Swimsuit Issue. Model and body confidence activist Ashley Graham and pro wrestler and actress Ronda Rousey claimed the other two covers that year.

Clauson, who started modeling at the age of 13, was named a brand legend this year. She was featured on a group cover of the 60th anniversary issue following a photo shoot with 26 other SI Swimsuit icons in Hollywood, Fla., earlier this spring.

“I’ve been modeling for 16 years now. For a long time, that was all I knew, all I did. And these last few years, I really ventured out into other avenues, exploring my creative side and my business side. I do creative direction with my boyfriend [now fiancé, Jullien Herrera], he does photography. So I’ve gone to the other side of the camera,” Clauson stated while on set this year of her career trajectory. “Also, I became a co-owner of Margaux the Agency, using all my good and bad experiences from being a model and being with lots of different agencies, and really wanting to make the changes that I've wanted to see in the industry. I think it really starts with the modeling agencies.”

In honor of Clauson’s continued success within the industry, we’re throwing it back to a few of our favorite snapshots from her SI Swimsuit cover feature in Turks and Caicos.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

Published Aug 27, 2024

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara O’Bleness is a writer and editor on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Prior to joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, O’Bleness loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Journalism.