Get to Know 2023 Swim Search Finalist Nina Cash

Nina Cash.Paige Craig

Nina Cash is a retired university associate dean and model from Long Beach, Calif. She has more than 30 years of experience in education, training and workforce development, and holds an undergraduate degree in human services, a certificate in mediation, a graduate degree in negotiation, conflict resolution and peace building, and a doctorate in educational leadership, with an emphasis in higher education and adult learning. Despite her formal education, she believes that the best classroom is the world and the best teacher is life experience. The 56-year-old is married and has three daughters, two sons-in-law, four rescue pups and one grand pup. Cash, who is an active volunteer, grew up in a Filipino, Catholic and military family and enjoys retail therapy, joking that she earned a black belt in bargain shopping under the tutelage of her master sensei—her older sister.

Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
Occupation: Retired university associate dean who is enjoying an encore career (“encoreer”) as a model
Age: 56 

Please list five fun facts about yourself.

1. I am a proud returning adult student, having earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees 20 and 30 years respectively after high school … and at 55 years old, I earned my doctorate.
2. I was a regular dancer on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in the 1980s.
3. I still have my first car, a red 1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle convertible that I got right out of high school.
4. I have lived on the same block all but the first three years of my life. 
5. I am a proud daughter of a veteran who served in three wars (World War II, Korean and Vietnam).

What inspired you to try out for SI Swim Search?

“I am encouraged to see the massive changes that SI Swimsuit has made over the past years in redefining beauty. Not only is SI Swimsuit empowering women to embrace and celebrate their uniqueness, but the brand is also showing children (who will become adults) that celebrating one’s uniqueness, is in fact, beautiful.

On the surface, society’s label of me as it stands is: ‘a minority female, disabled, senior citizen retiree.’ (A side note: ‘disabled’ because I have diabetes.) Of course, this makes me chuckle—loudly! I am not that label and, therefore, am ready to be a part of the changes I wish to see, and SI Swim Search would be the perfect partner to do so with.”

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What would it mean to you to win SI Swim Search?

Winning SI Swim Search 2023 would not only make one of my wildest dreams come true, but it would validate and put the exclamation point on why I am passionate and dare to do the things I do. ‘I am part of the change I wish to see in the world!’”

What has been the best part (so far) about being a part of The Swimfluence Network Community?

“The best part about being a Swimfluence Network Community member is the support and encouragement received from other members. There are so many lights shining so brightly in this group that the warmth you feel when you join is welcoming and comforting. And when someone’s light begins to dim a little, there is always someone ready to flip the switch.”

Who was the first person you told the good news to?

“The first person I told the good news to was my biggest and loudest cheerleader, my husband.”

What is your favorite SI Swimsuit memory?

“My favorite SI Swimsuit memories are from 40 years ago, four years ago, and most recently. When I was a high school junior in 1983, I saw Cheryl Tiegs on the cover of SI. I distinctly remember thinking how naturally beautiful she was. I also thought, like so many other girls, about what it must feel like to be on the cover of the most popular magazine. Then the realization hit that it would never happen to me because of my outer appearance; I was not what American beauty standards were at the time. Regardless of that, Cheryl Tiegs has always been one of my favorite SI Swimsuit cover models. Fast forward to 2019, I had the special treat of meeting her through a mutual friend. Fast forward again to 2023, I have made it to the top 12!”

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What advice would you give to your younger self?

“Keep doing what you are doing. Everything happens for a reason. It is always right timing.”

What changes would you like to see in the world?

“There are many changes I would like to see in the world and that is why I support and volunteer for several non-profit organizations whose missions are to serve the greater good of society. I do not want to just talk about the changes but do the best I can to be actively involved in making those changes.

One change that I would like to see is the end of mass shootings of school-aged children by the hands of individuals who possess automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Mass school shootings MUST STOP! Unfortunately, and most frustratingly, until governmental policies change, gun violence will continue. That is why I am on the board of Project Get Safe (PGS), a non-profit organization that I have been a champion of since first introduced to the organization 25 years ago. PGS changes mindsets to change outcomes by empowering members of the community through personal safety training and prevention education, and by providing effective solutions to de-escalate violence, reduce anxiety and alleviate fear—which saves lives. PGS bridges sensitive topics of abuse, bias, violence and mental wellness, while maintaining and modeling core values of integrity, competence, human connection and social justice. PGS fosters understanding and empathy to build stronger, safer and more unified communities in which everyone has the right to a safe and violence-free life.

The history of mass school shootings in the U.S. re-emphasizes the importance of PGS’s On the Edge School Safety Training program, which aims to reduce targeted violence in schools well before a critical incident occurs. While other programs focus on mitigating loss of life during an active threat situation through tactics like run-hide-fight, PGS understands that the most complex and heart-wrenching problem lies in prevention. The On the Edge program focuses on building relationships, recognizing predictive indicators of violence as a well as identifying and responding to bullying, suicidal ideation and other mental health concerns that, if left unsupported, can lead to horrific outcomes.I will continue to do my part in advocating for this change and pray one day to be witness to it."

Read more about the 2023 SI Swim Search final 12 here.