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The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is just full of surprises this year.
First, they revealed that they had snagged the most popular college athlete on social media, Olivia Dunne, as one of its new models.
And now, sticking with the LSU theme, on Monday it was revealed that basketball star Angel Reese is also a new SI Swimsuit model.
“This is what our kind of game day looks like!” SI Swimsuit wrote on Instagram. “LSU forward and NCAA women’s basketball champion @angelreese10 traded in her uniform for a swimsuit and will be featured in this year’s 2023 SI Swimsuit issue.”
SI Swimsuit editor in chief MJ Day added, “Angel Reese is a phenomenal basketball player. She’s an All- American and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. While we’re of course here to celebrate her incredible achievements and athleticism, it wouldn’t be an SI Swimsuit moment if we weren’t shining a light on Angel’s achievements off the court. Angel is combating the double standard in sports, especially for women. She is making a name for herself as a fierce competitor and an equally fierce advocate for growing the game of women’s basketball. Her intensity, drive and passion around being unapologetically herself and speaking up for what she believes in is helping move the needle forward for women in sports and is liberating the next generation to feel seen and heard. Our goal here is to help empower as many women as we can and we’re beyond excited to do that alongside Angel Reese in the 2023 issue.”
21-year-old Reese was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles for the issue.
“I had on thong bathing suits and I didn’t think I was going to be comfortable, but [everyone] made me feel really comfortable,” Reese said about the photo shoot. “I work out a lot. I embrace my body and who I am and every mark on my body. I probably feel the sexiest in a bathing suit.”
Take a look at some of that photo shoot in the new video below…