Meet Danielle Herrington! She’s this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model, and is already making history as the third Black woman to ever grace the front of the specialized edition (following Tyra Banks in 1996 and 1997 and Beyonce in 2007). Here’s what you need to know about the newcomer!
Age: 24
Hometown: Compton, California
Childhood | “I thought it was pretty normal. A lot of the time after school, we would go to my grandma’s house because my parents were working. We would swim, ride our bikes down the street, we had a trampoline, scooters, everything! I went to a private school so I guess I got away from the bad action,” she told Fox News.
Beginnings | Herrington went to John Casablancas’ modeling school at the age of 10 before she began modeling at 13 years old.
Big Break | Ironically, Herrington’s first major modeling job came from Sports Illustrated, but for last year‘s Swimsuit Issue when she was featured as part of its “rookie class.” Herrington detailed the Fiji photoshoot to Fox News, saying: “You know how you’re so nervous your knees shake? That was me….But the morning of the shoot, I woke up around 4 a.m. and I just couldn’t eat. I remember just having a little coffee. I was too nervous to eat… We then took a boat to a small island, which is where they shot Castaway. And honestly, once we started, I felt so comfortable, super confident and sexy. We got some good shots out of it.”
Her Icon | Naturally, Herrington’s inspiration came from the first black model to grace Sports Illustrated‘s Swimsuit Issue. “I just remember Tyra Banks being on the cover and that’s where it all started for me. That’s what really made me pursue modeling. SI was a goal from that point, from seeing Tyra on the cover. It was love at first sight… everything happened naturally,” she told FOX News.
So it was only right that Banks be the one to surprise Herrington with her cover. It all went down when the newcomer “accidentally” walked in on Banks’ (fake) photoshoot.
Runway Skills | Herrington doesn’t just know how to pose, but can literally walk the walk, too. She’s strutted on the runway for Philipp Plein twice, just a few days ago to showcase his Fall 2018 collection, as well as back in his Spring 2017 show.
Congrats to her!