Nina Cash Is Paving the Way for Women and Their ‘Encore Careers’

The Swim Search co-winner was photographed in Portugal for the 2024 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Ananya Panchal | May 23, 2024

Nina Cash was photographed by Ben Watts in Portugal. / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Swim Search co-winner Nina Cash is the epitome of a multifaceted woman. The 57-year-old, who was discovered through the open casting call last year, made her SI Swimsuit debut in the 2024 issue, which also marks the publication’s 60th anniversary.

She traveled to Port and the North, Portugal with visual artist Ben Watts. The Southern California native, who is a retired university associate dean, dabbled in modeling in her late teens and early 20s before leaving to pursue her education. Today, Cash has over 30 years of experience in education and workforce development, as well as an undergraduate degree in Human Services, a graduate degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership.

The mother and grandmother decided to pursue modeling again, an “encore career,” she calls it, post-retirement. She’s also passionate about volunteering in her spare time.

“It’s wonderful that SI is helping me and partnering with me to bring a voice to women like myself who otherwise would have thought this never could have happened,” she said. “I just want other women to know that you can achieve your dreams and it’s never too late. Sometimes people think, ‘I’m past my prime, it’s too late, I’m a has-been.’ You’re not, and I always believe it’s right timing. Some people think, ‘Oh, it’s bad timing.’ Nope. It’s right timing. Just remember that.”

Below are five stunning photos from Cash’s 2024 SI Swimsuit photo shoot in Portugal with photographer Ben Watts.

Nina Cash was photographed by Ben Watts in Portugal. Swimsuit by Agua by Agua Bendita. / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Nina Cash was photographed by Ben Watts in Portugal. Swimsuit by Norma Kamali. Bracelet by MONDO MONDO. / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Nina Cash was photographed by Ben Watts in Portugal. Swimsuit by Hunza G. Top by Natalia Fedner. / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Nina Cash was photographed by Ben Watts in Portugal. Swimsuit by Navy Ray. / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Nina Cash was photographed by Ben Watts in Portugal. Swimsuit by Agua by Agua Bendita. / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Published May 23, 2024

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.