SI Swimsuit 2016 Launch Week Diary: The Lead-Up

Andy Gray | Feb 13, 2016

SI Swimsuit 2016 Launch Week is officially underway. Over the next four days, we'll host fan festivals in New York City and Miami, appear on late night talk shows and generally take over the world. And as luck would have it, I'm on Year 4 of covering it all for SwimDaily. Perhaps you remember my Pulitzer-worthy coverage of 2013 in Las Vegas or 2015 in Nashville? Over the next four days, I'll provide photos, videos and GIFs from behind the scenes.

Before the issue was released, however, we invited several rookies and veterans to SI's downtown Manhattan office for video shoots and unveiled our cover model on national TV. Here's what went down.

Our first video shoot was with Sofia Resing, who arrived right on time. I took her for a walk around the Time Inc. building and more than a few heads turned. Wonder why.

Sofia was a pro in front of the camera as we gave her several props to play with and provided several GIF-worthy moments.

I bid Sofia goodbye and waited in the lobby for Ashley Graham, who arrived a few minutes later with a huge smile on her face. We'd just revealed her as our second rookie and she was drowning in congratulatory texts. We thought it only appropriate to make her dance and recite cheesy pickup lines.

On her way out, we decided to turn Ashley into a reporter for some man-on-the-street interviews. You can barely tell it's 35 degrees.

Next up was the great Bo Krsmanovic, who we used as a guinea pig in our effort to find a new SwimDaily correspondent. We gave NBA editor Matt Dollingera shot. He came up a little short in some areas, but overall did great.

The taping of TNT's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2016 Revealed took place late Saturday afternoon at the Manhattan Center near Madison Square Garden. You know it's an important event when you get four handouts upon arriving.