The Story Behind the Famous SI Swimsuit Photo of Marquita Pring Fly Fishing in Wyoming in a Bikini

The four time SI Swimsuit model wowed in tricky terrain for her first photoshoot.

Marquita Pring.Rueven Afanador/Sports Illustrated

In celebration of Marquita Pring's birthday on July 19th, we're taking you on an exciting behind-the-scenes journey into one of our favorite images of her from the 2020 photoshoot in picturesque Wyoming with the talented photographer Rueven Afanador. Pring has been working with the brand for an impressive four years straight, but the 2020 shoot marked her rookie experience.

To set the stage, picture this: Wyoming in the fall of 2019, where the team faced near-freezing temperatures. While Pring exudes happiness and carefree energy in all the images, the crew had to bundle up in parkas, diligently providing her with hot water bottles, cozy robes, blankets, and hand warmers between shots to keep her comfortable. Afanador worked his magic on set, treating each picture as if it were an exquisite painting.

The fly fishing photos, in particular, were a brilliant concept of Afanador's, but they weren't a walk in the park to capture. The terrain was rocky and slippery, posing challenges for both Afanador and Pring to find the perfect positions. To add to the adventure, mother nature occasionally played her hand, surprising the team with snow squalls. They had to patiently wait for these squalls to pass and for the light to adjust before resuming. The dedication paid off, though, as the resulting images are truly enchanting, capturing the essence of the moment.

Marquita Pring. 

Rueven Afanador/Sports Illustrated

Despite the biting cold, Pring couldn't contain her excitement about being in such gorgeous scenery throughout the entire shoot. She reveled in the invigorating fresh air, feeling alive and energized by the surroundings. As she put it, "Coming out here, the fresh air is invigorating. You feel alive because you are just feeding off of this energy, and it’s incredible."

Indeed, the collaboration between Pring and Afanador produced a collection of stunning images that continue to captivate and inspire. Here's to celebrating Marquita Pring and the breathtaking beauty of her 2020 Wyoming photoshoot!

Marquita Pring.

Rueven Afanador/Sports Illustrated