Swimsuit

Swim Search Finalist Gabriella Halikas Channels Icon Ashley Graham in Stunning Recreation

The Swim Search finalist called the supermodel her ‘role model’ and ‘biggest inspiration.’

Cara O’Bleness

Gabriella Halikas and Ashley Graham

Gabriella Halikas and Ashley Graham.

Gabriella Halikas, a 2021 Swim Search finalist, just channeled her “role model,” “muse” and “biggest inspiration,” SI Swimsuit Issue cover star Ashley Graham, with an epic photoshoot recreation. 

In her Oct. 2 Instagram post, the self-proclaimed “CEO of confidence” noted that her carousel of photos is the first in a “spin-off to [her] ‘Thick Girls Can Rock This Fit Too’ series.” Halikas recreated Graham’s June 5 IG post, in which the supermodel posed against a gorgeous ocean backdrop in a black one-piece swimsuit.

“Ashley is someone who paved the way for so many curve and plus size women in this industry, but also helped millions of other women see their own worth and confidence in the process,” Halikas noted of Graham in her caption. “when i saw her @si_swimsuit cover in 2016, it was that exact moment i realized i wanted to pursue this dream of mine, and that i could also be a model and feel just as beautiful too.”

In the series of snaps captured by photographer Ashley Canario, Halikas stuck similar poses in a plunging black swimsuit, which she paired with a statement necklace and hoop earrings. Both women wore their dark locks in an up-do with several face-framing pieces left loose on one side.

“my girl did the dang thang!!!!” Graham wrote in the comments section, to which Halikas replied, “@ashleygraham learning from the best!!! love you!!💜 can’t wait for the day we shoot together🔥 keep [nailing] it and paving the way🙏🏼.”

In addition to their back-and-forth on social media, the two women met earlier this spring at an event for Khloe Kardashian’s clothing brand, Good American. We’re hoping Halikas manifests her goal, as we’d love to see the two of them participate in a joint photoshoot.

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Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara 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, Cara 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.