Swimsuit

Jessica Gomes Is a Natural Beauty in These 6 Pics From Madagascar

The Australian model posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue each year between 2008 and ’15.

Cara O’Bleness

Jessica Gomes

Jessica Gomes was photographed by Derek Kettela in Madagascar. 

When Australian model Jessica Gomes first posed for the 2008 SI Swimsuit Issue, she was featured in two different spreads: one in Israel and a secondary bodypaint feature in Turks and Caicos. 

The 38-year-old Sydney native returned to the fold each year through 2015, traveling to Spain, Portugal, the British Virgin Islands, her native Australia, China, Madagascar and Yellowstone National Park with the publication. And while Gomes started modeling at the age of 13, she was unaware of the magazine until several years later. 

“I did not look at [the SI] Swimsuit Issue until I turned 17,” she previously told us. “I remember hearing about it because I idolized Elle Macpherson and I remember seeing all her old covers. And I just remember thinking, ‘Wow, I’d love to do that.’”

In addition to her work with the magazine, Gomes has also appeared on a cover of InStyle Australia and collaborated with notable brands like H&M. She is currently represented by Freedom Models in Los Angeles and IMG Australia in her native Sydney. 

“[Diversity is] very important to me ... I mean from all ages to different heritages, I think it’s really important that we represent the world, equally,” she told Who What Wear three years after her last SI Swimsuit Issue feature of the importance of diversity in the modeling industry. “I mean, my story is that I am Portuguese, Chinese, but also Australian, so for me that was always something that I grew up knowing, and it was always something that’s been on my radar.”

Below are a few of our favorite photos of Gomes from her SI Swimsuit feature in Madagascar with photographer Derek Kettela.

Jessica Gomes
Jessica Gomes
Jessica Gomes
Jessica Gomes
Jessica Gomes
Jessica Gomes
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Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara 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, Cara 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.