Manju Reminisces on Her SI Swim Feature With a Stunning Throwback Snap in a Bright Orange Bikini

The physicist and aspiring astronaut reflected on her 2022 debut in a recent Instagram post.

Manju.Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Not only is Manju a physicist, author and the founder of two different nonprofit organizations, she’s also a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model. The aspiring astronaut officially joined the SI Swimsuit family in 2022 as a finalist for Swim Search, the brand’s annual open casting call. 

As such, she traveled to the Dominican Republic with photographer Yu Tsai for a photo shoot that spoke to both her beauty and her inspiring nature. She posed in a handful of bright bikinis for that one-time feature, putting her skill in front of the lens on full display.

It was a trip that we won’t soon forget. And, as it turns out, neither will she. She took to Instagram on Jan. 13 to express as much, sharing a throwback snap from her trip to the tropical destination alongside the SI Swim team. In the snap, she poses in a bright orange bikini in front of the light blue ocean waters.

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A post shared by MANJU BANGALORE (@astronautmanju)

“The time I was a Sports Illustrated Swim model 🥹,” she wrote in the caption of the post. “Sometimes life goes by us so quickly, it’s hard to realize all the dreams we have brought to life 😭 I’m so lucky to have had the opportunity to be in the 2022 issue and walk in Miami Swim Week for the brand. Truly surreal. Will forever be grateful to my SI family for the journey.”

SI Swim was a dream come true for the model, just as it was a dream for the team to welcome her to the family.

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