Check Out These Fun, 1970s Surf Culture-Inspired Looks From Marquita Pring’s Photo Shoot in Puerto Rico

The four-time SI Swimsuit model was photographed by Ben Watts earlier this year.

Marquita Pring was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. 


Four-time SI Swimsuit model Marquita Pring returned to the 2023 issue and we are totally obsessed with the looks from her photo shoot. The upstate New York native, who made her debut with the magazine in ’20, was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico earlier this year. Styling on set was inspired by the laid-back, funky and colorful aesthetic of 1970s surf culture.

The model, who has been building her platform to encourage vulnerability and inspire women to embrace their natural hair and bodies, first entered the modeling scene in 2011 when she walked in Jean Paul Gaultier’s show during Paris Fashion Week. She appeared in a groundbreaking Vogue Italia cover story that same year.

“Growing up I never had anyone to relate to, [not] even in magazines or ads. The plus size revolution did not exist like it does now,” she said during her 2021 photo shoot in California. “So once I started modeling, that’s when I started accepting and stepping into myself and especially seeing other women that looked similar to me. I’m here to put myself out there and be myself. The more that we all start like embracing ourselves for our flaws, completely, the happier we will be.”

Below are seven of our favorite photos from Pring’s 2023 SI Swimsuit photo shoot.

MTk3ODU1OTE4ODU0MTg2MTU2

Marquita Pring was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by Love You More Swim. Earrings by Jennifer Meyer.

MTk3ODU1OTE5MTIyNTU2MDc2

Marquita Pring was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by Missoni. Earrings and bracelets by Eklexic Jewelry.

MTk3ODU1OTE5MTIyNzUzMzk4

Marquita Pring was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by Lybethras Swimwear. Earrings by Jennifer Meyer.

MTk3ODU1OTE5MTIyOTUwMDA2

Marquita Pring was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by Lybethras Swimwear. Wetsuit by Connelly.

MTk3ODU1OTE5MTIzMjc3Njg2

Marquita Pring was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by Bahama Mama Beachwear. Necklace by ANNI LU. Anklet by KBH Jewelry.

MTk3ODU1OTE5MzkwODYxMTc0

Marquita Pring was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by Montce. Earrings and bracelets Eklexic Jewelry.

MTk3ODU1OTE5NjU5Njg5MTMy

Marquita Pring was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by SHOP BALOU. Earrings by Brinker + Eliza.

Make sure to follow SI Lifestyle in Google News!


Published
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.