SI LifeStyle

We’ll Never Stop Staring at These 8 Photos From Leyna Bloom’s Historic SI Swimsuit Cover

The model, actress and activist landed on the front of the 2021 issue as a rookie.

Ananya Panchal

Leyna Bloom.

Leyna Bloom.

Three-time SI Swimsuit model Leyna Bloom stuns every single year. The actress, dancer and activist made history with the magazine in 2021 as a rookie when she became the first transgender woman to land the cover. She was photographed by Yu Tsai in Tampa, Fla., and we will probably never get over those photos—or the pics from her ’22 photo shoot in the Belize, nor her most recent appearance with Amanda Pratt in Dominica, for that matter.

“Right now, we’re in a time where entertainment, fashion, sports, media—all forms of social activities are so like intersectional. And it’s important that brands that have the power to make change, do,” the Illinois native said, adding that the SI Swimsuit brand is a trailblazer in the industry. “I think it’s just imperative that we celebrate all walks of life. I just don’t want it to be a trend. I wanted to do something that is embedded in the bloodline of the brand and what they’re trying to do.”

Below are eight of our favorite photos from her 2021 photo shoot in Florida.

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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.

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