Explore SI Swimsuit 2026: Meet the Models Captured in Botswana

The 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue arrives in May with a striking location shoot in Botswana. Fans can explore SI Swimsuit 2026 galleries to meet the models captured in Botswana.

Location and partners

The shoots took place in the Okavango Delta. SI Swimsuit partnered with luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent for logistics.

Photographer Ruven Afanador led the shoots on site. Kérastase served as the official haircare partner for the 2026 production.

Stanley’s Camp and Baines’ Lodge

The models stayed at two A&K Sanctuaries: Stanley’s Camp and Baines’ Lodge. Both properties sit on the Boro River, beside the Moremi Game Reserve.

Stanley’s Camp offers ten luxury tents. Baines’ Lodge contains six suites.

Wildlife and setting

The Okavango Delta is a unique wetland habitat. It supports roughly 9,000 species of flora and fauna.

The area provided natural backdrops for the shoot. Lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and zebras were among the common sightings.

The models photographed in Botswana

• Alix Earle — A 25-year-old content creator and model. This is her third consecutive year in the issue. She was the brand’s inaugural digital cover model in 2024. Last year she shot in Jamaica. Earle is a New Jersey native with more than 10 million followers across TikTok and Instagram. In January she launched a YouTube series titled Get Real With Me.
• Penny Lane — A 31-year-old from Cheshire, England. She returns for a third year after winning a co-title in the 2023 Swim Search. Her rookie shoot took place in Portugal. Last year she shot in Switzerland. Lane is a certified holistic health coach who promotes balanced living.
• Achieng Agutu — A 29-year-old Kenyan model and co-winner of the 2023 Swim Search. Her rookie shoot was in Mexico. She returned last year in Bermuda. Agutu calls herself the “tantalizing confidence queen.” She is a digital creator and television personality with more than 936,000 Instagram followers.
• Camille Kostek — A 34-year-old brand legend and television host. This marks her ninth consecutive year in the issue. Kostek was a co-winner of the 2018 model search and appeared on the 2019 cover. She designs jewelry and swimwear. Kostek supports the Pete Frates Family Foundation and the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation.
• Meredith Mickelson — A 26-year-old Georgia native making her brand debut. She was discovered at 14 in an Atlanta mall. Mickelson is an actress and Gen Z influencer. Her editorial credits include Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Maxim. She has collaborated with Christian Louboutin and Maybelline. Her acting credits include Find Your Friends, Euphoria and The Beauty.

What to expect

Images from the Botswana shoots will appear when the issue hits newsstands in May. Galleries promise dramatic landscapes and wildlife-rich backdrops.

Readers can explore detailed spreads to meet the models captured in Botswana and view the new season’s styling and hair work.

For more coverage and image previews, visit Filmogaz.com. The site will publish additional galleries and interviews ahead of the issue launch.