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If you’re not familiar with the name Kayla Simmons, it may just be time to get familiar.
Simmons is a phenomenal athlete, having starred as a volleyball player at Marshall University in West Virginia.
Since then, however, she’s turned to modeling and become an absolute star on social media. Simmons boasts just under one million followers on her Instagram page.
Simmons, who is also an SI Swimsuit model, spoke with the New York Post about her transition from college sports to modeling.
“I didn’t really aspire to be a swimsuit model,” she told The Post in 2019. “I did some modeling when I was younger, and I loved going to the beach and taking pictures.”
“I love Sports Illustrated and being an athlete, and also doing what I do now, I thought it was a great opportunity for me,” the then 23-year-old said. “I love their brand and how they empower all body types and all women.”
Simmons said that college athletics helped prepare her for a career in modeling.
“College athletics was a great experience for me, but it also taught me some valuable lessons. I was told by my school administrators that the pictures I post are inappropriate because of my body, I was even asked to delete my Instagram at one point. I was torn bc I felt I couldn’t embrace my body & play the sport I love. I’ve since learned that you can’t let other people affect how you feel about yourself,” she continued.
From there, Simmons hasn’t looked back.
Her social media following has only continued to grow, and it’s easy to see why.
Simmons went viral again with her latest post. Her followers quickly flooded it with over 20,000 likes and hundreds of comments.
It sure seems like Kayla Simmons is here to stay as a social media model and influencer.