Swimsuit

Valerie van der Graaf Stuns in These 8 SI Swim Photos in Brazil

The Dutch model dazzled during her rookie feature in 2014.

Cara O’Bleness

Valerie van der Graaf was photographed by Raphael Mazzucco in Barreirinhas, Brazil.

When she posed for the 2014 SI Swimsuit Issue, rookie Valerie van der Graaf traveled to Brazil, where she was photographed by Raphael Mazzucco. The Dutch model got her start in the industry as a teenager, and has since posed for publications like Playboy and Harper’s Bazaar Thailand.

Three years after her SI Swimsuit photoshoot, van der Graaf discussed her career trajectory with My Fashion Life and divulged that when it comes to modeling, the most important aspect of a successful photoshoot is her relationship with the photographer.

“If he or she is very energetic and nice, then [that] helps a lot,” the 31-year-old noted at the time. “Sometimes photographers who are abrupt get good pictures but it can be a little more difficult. I like it when there’s chemistry.”

Judging by the incredible images that resulted from van der Graaf’s time on location in Barreirinhas, Brazil with the Canadian photographer, it’s clear that the two hit it off creatively. The model stunned in colorful bikinis and solid-colored one-pieces as she posed among sand dunes and in water.

Today, van der Graaf is retired from modeling and is a self-proclaimed “science geek/wine lover.” She regularly shares life updates with her 54,000 Instagram followers. Despite no longer working in the industry, and the fact that her SI Swimsuit photoshoot took place almost 10 years ago, we’ll never get over the following eight gorgeous pics of van der Graaf in Brazil.

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Published
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.