Kate Love Was Dripping in Pearls, Beads and Puka Shells in Mexico

The 10-time SI Swimsuit model looked beyond incredible during her photo shoot in 2017.

Ananya Panchal | Mar 13, 2024

Kate Love was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico.

Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated

Kate Love is a household name here at SI Swimsuit. The Canadian model, who has posed in a total of 10 consecutive issues, made her debut with the brand in Easter Island, Chile, in 2013.

The 36-year-old has since traveled to numerous exciting locations with the magazine, including Switzerland, Tennessee, Malta, Mexico, Nevis, Costa Rica, Hollywood, Fla., and Belize. In 2020, the mom of one, who shares a daughter with her husband, NBA player Kevin Love, landed on the cover alongside Olivia Culpo and Jasmine Sanders following her stunning photo shoot Bali.

“I’ve gotten all these opportunities to really learn and grow with Sports Illustrated. I started coming to shoots with mood boards. I think it helped me kind of hone in on my creativity because every year is a little bit different based on the location, the photographer or just the weather and the vibe that we have, the swimsuits. It allowed my creativity and understanding of this industry to really flourish,” she reflected on her decade with the magazine. “I think every year I become more comfortable with myself and with my body. And they also know me so much better. I’m more comfortable asking questions. I now get to use what I’ve learned in so many other projects.”

Below are six of our favorite photos from her 2017 photo shoot with Ruven Afanador in Mexico.

Kate Bock — Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated

Kate Love was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus

Kate Love was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Swimsuit by Yandy. Top by WXYZ Jewlery.

Kate Love was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Swimsuit by Noe Bernacelli.

Kate Love was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Top by Grace Bijoux. Bottom by Missoni.

Kate Love was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Swimsuit by Hot As Hell.

Published Mar 13, 2024

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.