Ronda Rousey Displays Athletic Figure in These 6 Bikini Pics

The professional wrestler was featured in back-to-back SI Swimsuit Issues starting in 2015.

Cara O’Bleness | Jan 27, 2024

Ronda Rousey was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Captiva, Fla.

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Professional wrestler Ronda Rousey may be renowned for her accomplishments in the ring, but the New York Times best-selling author, actress and mom of one is also a two-time SI Swimsuit model.

The 36-year-old California native first posed for the annual publication in 2015, when she traveled to Captiva, Fla., alongside photographer Walter Iooss Jr. Rousey returned to the fold the very next year for a stunning bodypaint feature with makeup artist Joanne Gair and visual artist Frederic Pinet in Petit St. Vincent.

Shortly after her bodypaint photo shoot took place, Rousey shared a behind the scenes peek to her Instagram account. “Secret’s out - so here’s a free preview of this year’s 2016 SI swimsuit issue,” she wrote. “ ... I was one of the lucky few chosen to be a canvas for a hand painted masterpiece by @joannegair that took 14 hours to put on and photographed by the brilliant @fredericpinet.”

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The Olympic athlete went on to land one of three SI Swimsuit Issue covers in 2016, alongside fellow brand models Ashley Graham and Hailey Clauson.

Today, however, we’re reflecting upon the athlete’s feature in Florida that started it all. While on location in the Sunshine State, Rousey modeled several black swimsuits, including tiny bikinis and strappy two-pieces, that expertly showed off her athletic figure. She even had the opportunity to demonstrate her moves in the sand.

Below are a few of our favorite snapshots from the 2015 feature.

Ronda Rousey — Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

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Published Jan 27, 2024

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara O’Bleness is a writer and editor on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Prior to joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, O’Bleness loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Journalism.