5 Photos From Ashley Callingbull’s Historic SI Swimsuit Feature in the Dominican Republic

The Swim Search finalist was photographed by Yu Tsai last year.
Ashley Callingbull was photographed by Yu Tsai in the Dominican Republic.

Ashley Callingbull was photographed by Yu Tsai in the Dominican Republic.


Ashley Callingbull made her historic SI Swimsuit debut last year as the first Indigenous First Nations woman to be featured in the magazine. The Swim Search finalist was photographed by Yu Tsai in the Dominican Republic, and the TV broadcast host knew what a major moment it was for her community.

“I am the first Indigenous First Nations woman to appear in the magazine, and I know I won’t be the last. I’m opening the door for our next generation of women, which is really important,” the 33-year-old said of the milestone at the time. “The reaction was just more than I expected. So many Indigenous people [saw themselves represented] for the first time, which is overwhelming. And it’s not just Indigenous people; many women of color reached out and said it feels so good to be seen and heard. Representation matters. It’s been a dream.”

Below are five of our favorite photos from Callingbull’s photo shoot in the Dominican Republic.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.