Nicole Williams English on Being 2023 SI Swimsuit Rookie of the Year

The model, entrepreneur and mom received the news while on location for next year’s 60th anniversary issue.

Nicole Williams English was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica.Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Nicole Williams English was declared SI Swimsuit’s 2023 Rookie of the Year over the weekend, and the 40-year-old mom, model and entrepreneur met the news with nothing but gratitude. 

After being surprised with a trophy at the Kempinski Hotel Cancún, where Williams English was posing for her 2024 SI Swimsuit Issue feature, she took to her Instagram story to share some initial reactions late Saturday night.

“I cannot believe that I am the 2023 Rookie of the Year,” Williams English gushed. “I can’t believe I’m saying that, honestly, this ride just keeps getting better and better and better. I’m sure if you guys have been following me, you guys know that being in Sports Illustrated, even just being a rookie, gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated, being amongst all those iconic, beautiful amazing, strong women... This has been my ultimate goal throughout my whole career. This is why I started, this is where I wanted to be, this was my biggest dream, and that I’m living out my dream right now is just blowing my mind. I don’t even have words.”

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Williams English added that one of the first people she called to share the news was her husband, Larry English. She thanked the SI Swimsuit team, whom she referred to as her “family for life,” her supporters and her fans before tucking her trophy into bed beside her for the evening.

Her 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue feature was captured in Dominica by photographer Yu Tsai, and Williams English posed for the publication at seven months pregnant. She will return to the fold in next year’s 60th anniversary magazine.

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