Sports Illustrated's 50 Greatest Swimsuit Models (30-21)

Swim Daily Staff | Jun 24, 2013

This week, Sports Illustrated will be counting down its Top 50 all-time models, 10 per day, with the winner being revealed on Friday in conjunction with SI’s Summer of Swim Event at Wynn Las Vegas. Check back all week as the list is revealed.

COMPLETE LIST: No. 50-41 | No. 40-31 | No. 20-11 (coming Thu.) | No. 10-1 (coming Fri.)

30. Julie Henderson

Julie Henderson :: Raphael Mazzucco/SI

Julie Henderson :: Raphael Mazzucco/SI

Julie Henderson :: James Macari/SI

Julie Henderson :: Stewart Shining/SI

Julie Henderson :: Alex Cayley/SI

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Years in Swimsuit Issue: 7 (2007-13)

Social: Twitter | Instagram

Henderson, who has been modeling since age 13, has appeared in the last seven swimsuit issues, trailing only Anne V for most appearances by a current model. The Texas native is not only a swimsuit  model, she is also a designer who recently launched her own swimwear line with Basta Surf.

Random Fact: Her grandfather discovered the Henderson grapefruit while working at a citrus farm in South Texas.

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29. Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen :: David Burton/SI

Chrissy Teigen :: James Macari/SI

Chrissy Teigen :: James Macari/SI

Chrissy Teigen :: Raphael Mazzucco/SI

Hometown: Delta, Utah

Years in Swimsuit Issue: 4 (2010-13)

Social: Twitter | Instagram

After being named “Rookie of the Year” in the 2010 Swimsuit issue, Teigen has appeared in every issue since. An avid blogger (sodelushious.com), Teigen has been featured multiple times on the Cooking Channel.

Random Fact: She is engaged to singer John Legend.

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28. Ashley Richardson

Ashley Richardson :: Marc Hispard/SI

Ashley Richardson :: Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Ashley Richardson :: Marc Hispard/SI

Ashley Richardson :: Robert Huntzinger/SI

Hometown: Sudbury, Mass.

Years in Swimsuit Issue: 6 (1989-93, 1995)

Richardson reached superstardom in the early-to-mid ‘90s after she made six appearances in SI Swimsuit issues, including her 1991 appearance on the cover. She has been featured in Elle and Cosmopolitan multiple times.

Random Fact: It was reported in 1991, prior to her appearance on the cover of the SI Swimsuit issue, that she was married to 49ers quarterback Joe Montana. She was indeed married to a Montana—Paul Montana, a Miami nightclub owner with no relation to Joe.

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27. Jessica White

Jessica White :: Anne Menke/SI

Jessica White :: Stewart Shining/SI

Jessica White :: Stewart Shining/SI

Jessica White :: Stewart Shining/SI

Jessica White :: Stewart Shining/SI

Jessica White :: Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Hometown: Buffalo, NY

Years in Swimsuit Issue: 7 (2003-05, 2007-11)

Social: Twitter | Instagram

Titled the “model of her generation” by Tyra Banks, White made seven appearances in the SI Swimsuit issue from 2004 to 2011. She has made appearances in The Young and the Restless, America’s Next Top Model, and the music videos of Jay-Z, John Legend, and Trey Songz.

Random Fact: She played Terrell Owens’ love interest on The T.O. Show.

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26.Elsa Benitez

Elsa Benitez :: Robert Erdmann/SI

Elsa Benitez :: Stewart Shining/SI

Elsa Benitez :: Stewart Shining/SI

Hometown: Hermosillo, Mexico

Years in Swimsuit Issue: 5 (2001-02, 2004, 2006-07)

Social: Twitter

After beginning her modeling career in 1995, at age 17, Benitez rose quickly through the modeling ranks, appearing on the SI Swimsuit cover in 2001. From 2009 to 2012, she was a host on Mexico’s Next Top Model.

Random Fact: She starred in an Enrique Iglesias music video, “Love to See You Cry,” in 2002.

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25. Veronica Varekova

Veronica Varekova :: Dominique Issermann/SI

Veronica Varekova :: Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Veronica Varekova :: Patric Shaw/SI

Veronica Varekova :: Russell James/SI

Hometown: Olomouc, Czech Republic

Years in Swimsuit Issue: 8 (1999-2002, 2004-2007)

Social: Twitter

Varekova moved to New York City at age 19 to attend the Parsons School of Design and was signed by Next Models soon after. She has modeled for Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Victoria’s Secret, and became the face of Nivea.

Random Fact: Varekova successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2008, which led her to meet representatives from the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). She recently was named one of the first Goodwill Ambassadors to the AWF in 2009.

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24. Petra Nemcova

Petra Nemcova :: Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Petra Nemcova :: Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Petra Nemcova :: Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Petra Nemcova :: Stewart Shining/SI

Hometown: Karvina, Czech Republic

Years in Swimsuit: 5 (2002-2006)

Social: Twitter | Instagram

After winning the 1995 Czech Elite Model Look, Nemcova went to Milan where her career flourished. In 2005, she released her autobiography entitled "Love Always, Petra," which discusses, among other things, her early life under Communist rule in Czechoslovakia and her entrance into the world of fashion and modeling.

Random Fact: She appeared on Season 12 of the ABC TV show “Dancing with the Stars.” She was eliminated in the fifth week.

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23. Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell :: Robert Huntzinger/SI

Naomi Campbell :: Robert Huntzinger/SI

Naomi Campbell :: Sante D'Orazio/SI

Naomi Campbell :: Robert Huntzinger/SI

Hometown: London

Years in Swimsuit: 2 (1997, 2002)

Social: Twitter | Instagram

Campbell first appeared in front of the camera at age 7, when she appeared in the video for Bob Marley's "Is This Love." She went onto become one of the most widely recognizable models of the 1980s and early 1990s and was one of only six models to be declared a “supermodel” by the fashion industry.

Random Fact: At the age of 10, Campbell was accepted into the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts where she studied ballet.

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22. Ana Beatriz Barros

Ana Beatriz Barros :: Stewart Shining/SI

Ana Beatriz Barros :: JR Duran/SI

Ana Beatriz Barros :: Stewart Shining/SI

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Years in Swimsuit: 7 (2002-2008)

Social: Twitter | Instagram

Barros, who was spotted by a modeling scout at age 13, has done advertisements for Dior, Armani, Oakley, Victoria’s Secret, and many more. In 2006, she was named as one of FHM’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World.”

Random Fact: Barros, a native of Brazil, is of Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian decent. Her older sister Patricia is also a well-known model.

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21. Vendela

Vendela :: Robert Huntzinger/SI

Vendela :: Paul Lange/SI

Vendela :: Robert Huntzinger/SI

Hometown: Nesodden, Norway

Years in Swimsuit: 5 (1992-95, 1997)

Vendela, a native of Sweden, has appeared on the covers of multiple international magazines and has been active since she was discovered at just 13-years-old.

Random Fact: Vendela made an appearance in the film The Parent Trap, appearing as a bridal gown model.

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