Malia Manuel Posed for Some Incredible Underwater SI Swim Photos in Turks and Caicos

The pro surfer was in her element on the waves during her brand feature.

Malia Manuel was photographed by James Macari in Turks and Caicos.James Macari/Sports Illustrated

For Malia Manuel, posing for the SI Swimsuit Issue wasn’t exactly out of her comfort zone. By the time she headed to Turks and Caicos for her 2020 feature, which was photographed by James Macari, the athlete had been surfing in professional competitions for over a decade. Plus, she grew up on the island of Hawai’i and had practically lived “in a swimsuit since [she] was a little girl,” she remarked during the photo shoot.

It was “the perfect opportunity” to “come to such a beautiful part of the world that I really wouldn’t come for surfing,” she said of the experience. Though she was more than familiar with being in the ocean, the waters in Turks and Caicos were new territory for her.

Ahead of Manuel’s time on set, she went back and drew inspiration from the many SI Swimsuit stars who had gone before her. The resulting photos were absolutely stunning—due largely, we have no doubt, to her natural skill in front of the camera, but perhaps in part to her pre-photo shoot perusal of past issues.

Overall, it was a fulfilling experience “I’m so happy I committed and came,” Manuel told the team while on set. We, likewise, were thrilled to have the 30-year-old on set for the first time. She posed for a series of photos—including several unreal underwater snapshots—that we are still not over four years later. Below are just a few of our favorites.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated