The Story Behind the Famous Photo of Hailey Clauson and the Koala

The model and the marsupial met up in Kangaroo Island, Australia, for the 2019 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Hailey Clauson.Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

SI Swimsuit has a history of transporting its models to far-off destinations where they often cross paths with some of the most exotic animals in the world. Remember when Olivia Culpo posed with a 12-foot-long snake? Or when Anne de Paula was photographed with a wild lion? Well, in 2019, Hailey Clauson lucked out, getting to pose with a precious koala from the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park in Duncan, Australia. (It's worth noting that she also had to deal with some water buffalo on another SI Swimsuit photo shoot, but we'll save that story for a different time.)

Camille Kostek, Myla Dalbesio and Olivia Culpo also visited the reserve, but Clauson was the only one who was photographed for the issue with a marsupial. Dalbesio posed with a dingo and Culpo with the aforementioned snake. Take a look at more special moments from that photo shoot here.

Hailey Clauson.

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

The Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park is home to more than 150 species of Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos, birds and wombats. According to Sam Mitchell, a ranger at the park, it was established in 1992 to care for injured and orphaned animals. The park is open to the public every day of the year and is home to about 700 Australian natives. Mitchell shared that many of the animals at the park were rescued and view the staff as their "mom."

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Hailey Clauson.

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Olivia Culpo.

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Myla Dalbesio.