SI LifeStyle

SI Swimsuit Announces the Top 12 Swim Search Finalists of 2023

Meet the impressive group of women here.

Cara O’Bleness

Jena Sims, Sharina Gutierrez and Acacia McBride

Jena Sims, Sharina Gutierrez and Acacia McBride.

SI Swimsuit has officially unveiled the brand’s top 12 finalists for this year’s open casting call. The Swim Search is held annually to give aspiring and experienced models the chance to be featured with the franchise—either in the print issue or across digital properties. 

Meet this year’s 12 incredible finalists below!

Achieng Agutu

The 26-year-old content creator and model hopes to reshape beauty standards. She uses her online platforms to help empower her followers to live authentically while providing sage wisdom on self-love and confidence.

Nina Cash

A retired university associate dean and model, Cash has an undergraduate degree in human services as well as a a graduate degree in negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The 56-year-old also holds a doctorate in educational leadership.

Sharina Gutierrez

The 32-year-old model and entrepreneur has worked with a number of notable brands, including Ralph Lauren, Reebok and Rimmel London. Gutierrez is also a sound guide and aims to help people achieve unconditional self-love.

Adison Justis

The 21-year-old model got her start in the industry at age 17 and has been modeling full-time ever since. She’s passionate about beauty and fashion and recently completed her college degree while specializing in criminal justice reform.

Jenna Kutcher

The digital marketer, speaker and mom is also a New York Times best-selling author and podcast host. Kutcher, 34, hopes to help women take charge of their lives.

Penny Lane

After industry pressures led 27-year-old Lane to compromise her health, she became a certified holistic health coach. She uses her platform to discuss topics like mental health and body standards, and when she’s not working, she enjoys spending time in nature.

Acacia McBride

The 25-year-old model, digital creator and influencer loves beauty and fashion and is currently featured in Sephora for Patrick TA, Beauty Blender and TooFaced Cosmetics campaigns. Passionate about philanthropy, McBride is an advocate for the special needs community.

Nana Meriwether

The former Miss USA is also a two-time All-American volleyball player from UCLA. The 37-year-old is the founder of wellness company Navina and cofounder of the Meriwether Foundation, a non-profit that aims to improve health while empowering communities.

Brittney Nicole

The 32-year-old model is a government contractor who worked for the Navy as a civilian after completing her military contract. She decided to pursue modeling full-time a year ago and has since walked the runway during New York Fashion Week.

Mahalia

The 30-year-old model is passionate about diversity and enjoys sharing her experience in the fashion industry. She’s also the cofounder of Shine4Diversity, a social activist group that challenges fashion media stigmas in her native Australia through storytelling.

Jena Sims

A non-profit CEO and fashion designer, the 34-year-old is the founder and president of HBBQs, Inc. The company is known for putting on Pageant of Hope™, the most inclusive pageant in the world.

Berkleigh Wright

The 28-year-old works as both a technical account manager and analyst and a cheerleader for the Broncos. She’s passionate about mentorship and philanthropy and works with several local organizations, including Children’s Hospital of Colorado.

Read more about the 2023 SI Swim Search final 12 here.

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Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, Cara loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University's School of Journalism.