Model and Influencer Sixtine Rouyre Joins 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition
The Belgian-born, Texas-raised model moved to New York City at the age of 18 to pursue a modeling career. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit just as her modeling work was starting to take off, Rouyre made a pivot toward social media.
As it turns out, it was a shrewd move. Now she counts nearly 800,000 followers on TikTok and more than 100,000 on Instagram (and counting).
In addition to advice on how to pronounce her first name “like the chapel, not the number,” Rouyre uses her social media platforms to inspire others to love and accept themselves.
As for SI Swimsuit, Rouyre says it was something she’d thought about for a while. She’d even put the idea on a vision board. The fact it came to fruition is “just unreal,” she says.
“To me, being a rookie feels powerful and strong. I’ve always said that I never want to be just a pretty face as a model. If I have a platform, I want to be able to use it, and being a rookie allows me to do that.”
Rouyre’s shoot took place in Dominica with photographer Yu Tsai. Rourye wore a shell-adorned bikini and a giant palm leaf fashioned into a swimsuit. She was also able to celebrate her birthday the moment the photography wrapped.
“There wasn’t even any pause, it just literally went straight into them singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me, which is insane. I got to shoot Sports Illustrated on my 25th birthday,” she says.