How Brooks Nader’s ‘Never Give Up’ Attitude Led Her to Her First SI Swimsuit Cover

The five-time SI Swimsuit model is having a cover girl moment with the 2023 issue.

Brooks Nader was photographed by James Macari in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Monica Hansen Beachwear. Earrings from model’s own collection.

Brooks Nader

Five-time SI Swimsuit model Brooks Nader landed her first cover with the franchise this year—one that her stacked support system will no doubt celebrate. As the oldest of four sisters, the Baton Rouge, La., native had built-in best friends right at home. The model and her siblings, Mary Holland, Grace Ann and Sarah Jane, all live in New York City today.

View Brooks Nader’s full 2023 SI Swimsuit gallery here.

Early Life

“When we were younger, we didn’t have that much. We lived in this little house on my grandparents' property called ‘The Little House.’ It was two bedrooms, one for my parents, one for us,” Nader says. “For some reason, there was a massive mud pile in the backyard for like a year. We found entertainment in that every single day of the week. We would play in it in our dad’s T-shirts all day, just throwing mud at each other. It was like the best memories of our life.”

All four sisters cried when the mud pile disappeared. Two decades later, Nader still looks back on those moments fondly. Those memories also help provide some perspective: any time she feels frustrated or wants to complain about something, she remembers the mud pile and how happy she was with something so simple.

Nader is a vocal advocate for herself, always going after what she wants. She uses her platform to inspire other models and young women to do the same. She often reminds her fans that “you are the CEO of your own life.”

Support System

Nader used to think that being independent meant doing everything on her own. But she says she learned that leaning on her loved ones—like her sisters—is a healthier strategy.

“‘I don’t need anybody’s help,’ I thought. But I feel like surrounding yourself with like-minded people [is what] keeps me strong,” she says. “That’s what keeps my strength going—just having people around me that lift me up and [who] are positive and not negative people.”

Today, she has learned to surround herself with the right people—those who add value to her life and are not who her mom describes as “vampires.”

“If you hang out with somebody, and you leave feeling drained and not fulfilled like they’ve sucked you of all your energy—I feel like I’ve stopped hanging out with some of the vampires,” she says.

SI Swimsuit and Swim Search 

Nader won SI Swimsuit’s Swim Search open casting call competition in 2019. She was having a tough time in the modeling industry at the time. Despite being represented by an agency, Nader was receiving a lot of “nos”.

“And then MJ Day gives me a stamp of approval, and everyone’s like now we want to work with you,” she recalls with a laugh. “And I’m like ‘Yeah, I told you so.’”

This is Nader’s fifth appearance in the Issue and some of her core memories have come from SI Swimsuit photo shoots—including when she slipped on a rock in Montenegro last year and was turned into a viral meme. Sher is known for her “never give up” and “bounce back” attitude.

“I’ve dealt with rejection a million times over and I know I will again in my life forever. I feel like empowerment to me is just dealing with the rejection, moving on, [and] keeping a positive attitude about it,” she explains. “And then it’s so much more worth it and empowering when you get the final ‘yes.’”

Click here to see Nader’s full 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue gallery.

Get ready for the hottest event of the year! The 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue is just around the corner, and you won’t want to miss the Swimsuit Issue Launch Party. Secure your tickets now and join us for an unforgettable weekend of glamour, beauty and fun.

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