Tunde Oyeneyin Reflects on Walking Down SI Swimsuit Runway at 40: ‘Not Just for Me’

The Peloton instructor, who posed for her rookie magazine feature in Montauk, N.Y., was on this week’s episode of ‘Making Space with Hoda Kotb.’

Tunde Oyeneyin | Brianna Bryson/Getty Images

Peloton instructor and 2026 SI Swimsuit rookie Tunde Oyeneyin appeared on the latest episode of Making Space with Hoda Kotb, and the podcast is full of knowledgeable gems imparted by the cycling instructor. For starters, Oyeneyin opened up about reaching her milestone 40th birthday last December and the fact that age is nothing but a number when it comes to achieving her goals.

“Sports Illustrated Swim, I walked down that runway at 40 years old. At 40 years old,” Oyeneyin stated during the discussion. “As a young person, like we were taught, like when a woman turns 40, that’s it. Baby, she just got started, Hoda! And so ... like I said, like my life is data. Everything is happening for me. Everything is happening for me and I realize that my “for me” is not just for me.”

The moment, which was shared by TODAY on Instagram earlier this week, has garnered plenty of comments from fellow SI Swimsuit models and fans who were taken with Oyeneyin’s notion that she’s checking goals off her bucket list in order to inspire other women to do the same—at any age.

“This!!! @tune2tunde what a message babe 🙌🏽,” SI Swimsuit legend Jasmine Sanders cheered.

“👏👏👏👏,” fellow magazine star Penny Lane applauded.

“She really is just getting started 🔥but she’s always been a star ⭐️ @tune2tunde,” one fan wrote.

“It’s for Me too. Thank You 🌹,” another comment read.

“Thank you for rewriting how we all see ‘40,’” someone else stated with gratitude.

“🙏🏿🙏🏿 bigger than me,” Oyeneyin chimed.

The New York Times best-selling author officially joined the SI Swimsuit family after winning the 2025 Swim Search. In doing so, she secured her status as a rookie in this year’s magazine and was photographed by Ben Watts in Montauk, N.Y. for the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Prior to appearing in the print issue for the first time, Oyeneyin walked the SI Swimsuit Runway during Swim Week in 2025 as a Swim Search finalist. She returned to the catwalk at the W South Beach in Miami once again this year, stunning in sunkissed and nautical-inspired swimwear, making for some truly unforgettable moments.

In case you missed it, we’re throwing it back to a few of our favorite of Oyeneyin’s stills from this year’s SI Swimsuit Runway Show during Swim Week. And best of all? You can still catch all the action by streaming the show in its entirety on Hulu and Disney+.

Tunde Oyeneyin. Swimsuit by OYE. Hat by Wyeth. | Emily Sidney

Tunde Oyeneyin. Swimsuit by Adriana Degreas. | Ivan Apfel/Getty Images

Tunde Oyeneyin. Swimsuit by OYE. Hat by Wyeth. | Ivan Apfel/Getty Images

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