Wellness Leader Melissa Wood-Tepperberg Channeled Mother Nature During Her SI Swim Debut in Dominica

The entrepreneur and mom of two was photographed by Yu Tsai for her rookie feature.

Ananya Panchal | Sep 24, 2023

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg made a splash with her breathtaking SI Swimsuit feature this year. The workout and wellness leader, who is the founder of the MWH platform, was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica for the 2023 issue.

In addition to her work in the fitness industry, the 40-year-old certified yoga and Pilates instructor is a mom. She shares her two kids, Benjamin and Elanor, with husband Noah Tepperberg.

“I feel so good about it. I think the Melissa in her 20s looked at 40 [like] … if you don’t reach things by the age of 40, that was it,” she said about reaching the milestone birthday. “That was the old mentality that I had, and now I’m just scratching the surface. Like things get better; you become more yourself at this age. I am the most confident now that I’ve ever been in my entire life,” she says. So it just shows, embrace age.”

Wood-Tepperberg is growing her social media platform—followed by 1.1 million and counting—to be a space where fans can go for all things health and wellness, but also for lifestyle advice and encouragement to be the best versions of themselves.

“I hope that anyone out there who feels any sense of not feeling enough or that things are impossible, that they can really tap into more than just these incredible photos, but the idea and the realm of infinite possibilities when you never give up on yourself,” Wood-Tepperberg added about her magazine feature.

Below are five of our favorite photos from her SI Swimsuit photoshoot.

MTk3ODc2MjkzMzczNzk4MjYy — Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Nicole McLaughlin.

MTk3ODc2MjkzMTA1MjMxMDIw — Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Bracelets: Viktoria Hayman Jewelry.

MTk3ODc2MjkzMTA1MjMxNzM0 — Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Hunza G. Belt by Vertigo.

MTk3ODc2MjkzMzczODYzMDg0 — Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Lybethras Swimwear. Body Chain by KBH Jewels.

MTk3ODc2MjkyODM2NzMwNzQy — Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by NATASHA TONIĆ.

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Published Sep 24, 2023

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.