Wellness Entrepreneur Melissa Wood-Tepperberg Channeled Her Inner Mother Nature in Dominica

The 2023 SI Swimsuit rookie and MWH founder was photographed by Yu Tsai.

Ananya Panchal | Dec 8, 2023

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Workout and wellness leader Melissa Wood-Tepperberg founded her MWH platform in 2015, and it really started to flourish with the popularity of at-home exercise during the pandemic. Today, the certified yoga and Pilates instructor has grown her company to be a digital space home to hundreds of workouts, meditations, nutritional recipes and lifestyle tips, and aims to make mindful health and wellness accessible to all.

The New York native was featured as a rookie in the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue. The 41-year-old model and mom of two, who shares kids Ben and Elanor with husband Noah Tepperberg, was photographed by Yu Tsai on the breathtaking beaches of Dominica, where she channeled the most stunning and ethereal mermaid vibes.

“I am the most confident now that I’ve ever been in my entire life. So it just shows, embrace age. I would tell any young girl who thinks 40 is old that it just keeps getting better, and it really is because you just become more of who you are,” the Move With Heart podcast host said about posing for the magazine right after her milestone birthday. “You become more comfortable in your own skin, and it’s also really taught me that age is really just a number and not to grasp or grip it too tightly. There’s just so much beauty in the becoming of getting older and wiser and more confident in your own skin.”

Below are six jaw-dropping photos of the model’s SI Swimsuit feature in Dominica.

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Bracelets: Viktoria Hayman Jewelry.

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Lybethras Swimwear. Body Chain by KBH Jewels.

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by NATASHA TONIĆ.

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Akoia Swim. Shrug by: Natalia Fedner.

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Nicole McLaughlin.

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus.

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Published Dec 8, 2023

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.