The Story Behind Olivia Culpo’s SI Swimsuit Photos With a 12-Foot Python
The model was photographed by Josie Clough for the 2019 issue on Kangaroo Island, Australia.
While you’d expect Olivia Culpo’s nervous jitters to be calmed for her sophomore appearance in the SI Swimsuit Issue, there’s good reason she was a bit unsure while on location in Kangaroo Island, Australia. Returning to the fold after her rookie feature in a New York studio in 2018, Culpo’s ’19 photo shoot involved a rather intimidating prop: a 12-foot black-headed python.
“I had no idea I was going to be shooting with a snake,” Culpo admitted while on location. “Let alone a black-headed 12-foot python.”
The 31-year-old Rhode Island native expressed concern over the creature’s fangs and teeth, and questioned whether or not it was hungry enough to take a bite out of her. For the photos in which she worked with the reptile wrapped around her neck and body, Culpo posed topless with just a pair of swimsuit bottoms by VIX by Paula Hermanny on her lower half.
“I was shaking at first. He was hissing and I thought that was kind of it telling me that it wanted to eat my ear or my nose or like gouge out my eyeballs,” Culpo stated. “ ... But I figured out that if you’re not nervous and if you’re calm, then the snake is calm. And he actually eventually fell asleep on my body.”
Below are just a few of the stunning photographs that resulted from the model and reality television star’s bravery—and immense talent—while on set with visual artist Josie Clough.