Paige VanZant’s 4 Best Pastel Bikini Photos From Mexico

The mixed martial artist stepped out of the ring and onto the beach for her 2019 SI Swimsuit Issue feature.

Paige VanZant was photographed by Walter Chin in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.Walter Chin/Sports Illustrated

Though she’s best known for her work as a martial artist, Paige VanZant is also a model, author and podcast host who appeared in the 2019 SI Swimsuit Issue.

The 29-year-old Oregon native traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for her magazine feature, which was captured by visual artist Walter Chin. VanZant called her time on location “magical” and noted that posing for the magazine created an opportunity for her to become known for something outside of just her talent in the ring.

“This is my way of not holding anything back,” she said. “I want people to know that you don’t have to choose. You do not have to label yourself as one thing because that's what surrounds you. I’m not scared anymore to show how girly I am. To go from an amazing UFC finish win in January, to shooting for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine in February could not be more of a dream come true.”

While VanZant had some experience modeling as a child, she noted that her SI Swimsuit magazine feature was a major milestone in her career.

“I never got a real feel for it until later on in my career,” Van Zant stated. “Being in [the] Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is the pinnacle of my modeling career thus far. I would love to continue modeling and show off the girly side of me that people don’t get to see when I am training for fights.”

Below are a few of our favorite photos of the athlete and model from her magazine feature in Mexico.

Walter Chin/Sports Illustrated

Walter Chin/Sports Illustrated

Walter Chin/Sports Illustrated

Walter Chin/Sports Illustrated