The winners of Sports Illustrated Swimsuitâs annual model search have finally been revealed and one of the two models, Tanaye White, is turning heads with her beautiful brown skin and lush mane of natural hair.
According to People, last summer thousands of models auditioned with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit team before the magazine narrowed down the group to just 16 finalists at the end of the year.
Now itâs official that White and fellow model Kathy Jacobs, 56, were selected as the 2020 Swim Search winners, landing spots as rookies in the upcoming 2021 issue.
âIâve dreamed of what this moment would look like for years and I cannot believe itâs happening! My stomach is flipping nonstop,â White, 28, said. âMy life will be forever changed. I hope my testimony shows people that you can do anything you put your mind and heart towards.â
White has participated in the Swim Search for the past two years, and last year the Georgetown University graduate quit her job at a defense and aerospace agency to follow her dreams of being a model.
âSheâs incredibly resilient and strong, and brings so much value to our team,â says Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor-in-chief M.J. Day. âSheâs shown such tenacity in achieving her goals.â
At 56-years-old and only 5â3,â her SI Swim rookie counterpart, Jacobs, also hopes her win âinspires others not to give up on themselves.â
âIf I can do it, you can too! You are not too old. You are not too short. You are not too âwhatever you think you are,ââ she told the magazine. âWhen you fall down, put on your big girl pants â or in my case a bikini â and try again. I am so excited for what the future holds and this is just the icing on the cake!â
Tanaye White and Kathy Jacobs win SI Swim Search 2020! https://t.co/slCFJ9aDeE pic.twitter.com/Brq5t16NvX
â Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) August 20, 2020
âWe are so excited to announce this yearâs Swim Search winners,â Day told People. âBoth women represent the power of persistence, hard work, and what it means to follow your dreams.â
-The Griot