Swimsuit

Nudes and Neutrals Were the Color Palette For Kelsey Merritt’s Debut Photo Shoot in the Bahamas

The social media influencer and fashionista modeled for the brand three years in a row.

Ananya Panchal

Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt was photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas. 

Three-time SI Swimsuit star Kelsey Merritt has mastered her smolder. The Filipino-American model, who made her debut with the magazine in 2019 in Great Exuma, Bahamas, rocked the most gorgeous glowy, sultry glam three years in a row and struck poses that never failed to take our breath away.

Merritt, who has created a name for herself as a major Instagram fashionista, returned to the fold the next year when she was captured by Kate Powers in the Dominican Republic. The former Victoria’s Secret model’s most recent photoshoot was with Ben Watts in 2021, where she once again turned up the heat on the beaches of Hollywood, Fla.

The 27-year-old spends a lot of time in New York City for various modeling gigs and runway shows. She is a passionate advocate for removing plastic pollution from oceans and encourages her two million Instagram followers to strive toward a plastic-free lifestyle. Before pursing modeling full time, she was adamant about completing her education and earned a degree in communications from Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines.

“I really want to be a Sports Illustrated model because I love how confident the models are and I want to show everyone who is looking at these pictures and reading the magazine that they can also be confident in their own skin,” she said during her rookie year.

Below are six amazing photos of from Merritt’s SI Swimsuit photoshoot with Laretta Houston in the Bahamas.

Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt was photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Swimsuit by Charmosa Swimwear by N Hall.

Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt was photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Swimsuit by Montce Swim.

Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt was photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Swimsuit by TAVIK.

Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt was photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Swimsuit by Dolcessa.

Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt was photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Swimsuit by INDAH.

Kelsey Merritt

Kelsey Merritt was photographed by Laretta Houston in Great Exuma, Bahamas. Swimsuit by INDAH.

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Ananya Panchal

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a NYC-based Lifestyle & Trending News writer at SI Swimsuit. Before joining the Swim team, the Boston University Alum worked for culture & entertainment beats at Bustle, The San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When Ananya is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, she can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast.