In the depths of winter, it’s natural to want to add a little light and life back into our Instagram feeds. (After all, when trapped indoors, the amount of time we spend lightly Insta-stalking others goes up a bit. We can’t help it. It’s a side effect of cabin fever.)
Given that we’re all mentally planning our next beach vacation anyway, who better to add to our ever-growing Insta-rosters than a few well-rounded bikini models? You know, women who spend much of their lives evenly tanned and ocean-adjacent, who know swimwear (and how to rock it), who’ve used their talents and diverse “bikini bodies” to secure promising careers.
In addition to dazzling us with their clever captions and on-point camera skills, these gorgeous bikini models double as vacation location scouts, swimsuit market researchers and inspiration to get off our couch-bound butts and get some life. (Oh, and reminders that every body is a “bikini body,” but that goes without saying.)
Click through the slideshow above for 12 bikini models well-deserving of a follow. From a 61-year-old grandmother of two to a body-positive crusader turned Sports Ilustrated rookie to a blogger who launched one of Kim Kardashian’s preferred bikini brands, these ladies will breathe new, sun-drenched life into your feed.
[ Next: 20 Sexiest Swimsuit Models of All Time ]
Bikini Models to Follow on Instagram
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Kate Wasley
As co-founder of the ANY Body project, Wasley is dedicated to promoting body positivity and acceptance among women and girls across generations. With their joint Instagram account, Walsey and fellow model/BFF Georgia Gibbs harness the power of the Internet for good, posting figure-celebrating photos (Walsey is a size 16, Gibbs a 6), sharing inspirational quotes and re-gramming women who inspire them. Naturally, ANY Body’s viral popularity (and swimsuit-heavy content) caught the attention of Sports Illustrated: the Australia-born, London-based beauty was recently named one of the mag’s latest swim rookies, as was Gibbs. Follow Walsey’s personal ‘gram for eye-catching selfies, glimpses at her modeling work and all the self-love/#friendshipgoals.
Image: @katewas_
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Alexis Ren
Alexis Ren’s enviably fit bod doesn’t come without effort. The California native spends a good chunk of her day working out, eating clean and maintaining her signature tan. It’s certainly paid off: the bikini model was financially independent by the age of 14. Six years later, Maxim's August 2017 cover star has high — but not unrealistic — hopes of following a Gigi Hadid-like trajectory, i.e. transitioning her bikini success into more high-fashion jobs. Her Instagram feed, which boats an impressive 11.2 million followers, consists mainly of bikini pics taken on exotic beaches (to keep her content “spicy and fun,” Ren travels constantly), but given that her Sport Illustrated debut’s coming up shortly, we foresee more ready-to-wear in Ren’s future.
Image: @alexisren
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Katrina Brodsky
L.A.-based blogger, model, stylist, fitness guru and golf enthusiast Katrina Brodsky wears many hats — and even more super-skimpy bikinis. (Her objectively incredible curves feature heavily on her 'gram.) It stands to reason that the multi-hyphenate’s latest venture, Keller Rose Fitness, is a curve-building workout program devised with the help of Pilates instructor Katie Rayle.
Image: @keller_rose
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Hannah Ferguson
It model Hannah Ferguson got her start flaunting her “bikini body” in the pages of Sports Illustrated. Nowadays, the Jeremy Scott muse barely has time to rest between runway appearances (Moschino, Max Mara, Dolce & Gabbana, etc.) and high-profile shoots (she even made it to Love Magazine’s 2017 Advent calendar series). Follow the Texan beauty for a vivid look at the life of a fashion insider — and tons of street style snaps.
Image: @hannahfergusonofficial
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Georgia Pratt
You know IMG-backed model Georgia "Joja" Pratt from her bevy of runway appearances, editorials and campaigns (the latter of which include Lonely Lingerie’s latest swimwear outing), but you need to get on her feed. It’s filled with cool #BTS photos, travel shots and cute AF tributes to her fiancée Nicolas Holiber (who recently one-upped her by getting “Joja” tattooed on the inside of his lower lip — now that’s love).
Image: @jojacalled
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Destene Kinser
Those familiar with size-inclusive swimwear line Phylyda (by Lydia Maurer, formerly of Paco Rabanne) will recognize Wilhelmina-repped model Destene Kinser. The Chanel Iman lookalike starred in the brand’s Vogue coming-out. Between her rock-hard abs, & Other Stories campaign and cool indie modeling gigs, we see big things in Kinser's future. Keep an eye on this one.
Image: @destenemarie
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Ireland Baldwin
No model lineup of any kind would be complete without a bit of celebrity nepotism. Enter Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin's daughter Ireland, who's landed a number of high-profile campaigns and editorials over the years. The occasional Swimsuitsforall model is quite active on the 'gram, and her refreshingly unfiltered posts vary from cute pics of her dog to political commentary to silly, self-aware selfies. (Like this one.)
Image: @irelandbasingerbaldwin
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Yazemeenah Rossi
In 2016, at the age of 60, Malibu-based French model/photographer Yazemeenah Rossi posed for Land of Women's Summer 2016 Swim campaign. Overnight, the gray-haired beauty's following soared from 1,000 to 12,000. Today Rossi has over 155,000 followers, who no doubt came for the inspiring bikini shots and stayed for the breathtaking art, nature and travel photos (and scarf-heavy selfies).
Image: @yazemeenahrossi
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Rocky Barnes
Thanks to her impressive following and uniquely exotic look, California native Rocky Barnes has built quite the blogging empire. She's spent the past few years circling the globe taking incredible bikini shots, not to mention collaborating with big-name brands like Revolve, Polo Ralph Lauren and Vitamin A Swim, to name just a few. Hit follow only if you can contain your travel envy.
Image: @rocky_barnes
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Sahara Ray
Remember that photo of Kim Kardashian in super-skimpy high-waist bikini bottoms and a soaked-through "Jamaica, No Problem" tee? Well, swim-fluencer Sahara Ray designed those bottoms (and named them after Kim). A hot AF bikini model in her own rite, Ray only recently made the transition to design. Needless to say, her line, like her 1.3 million followers-strong Instagram page, is a hit.
Image: @sahara_ray
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Marquita Pring
IMG signee Marquita Pring was one of the first "plus-size" models to break into the industry, and it's not hard to see why. Her springy curls are instant beauty inspiration; her posts are filled with personality and bite. (To wit: whenever she's not working, she's frolicking around some tropical beach. #Relatable.)
Image: @marquitapring
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Cheyenne Adler
Cheyenne Adler: marketing guru at Squarespace by day, model for fledgling swim label Sidway by...other day. Oh, and she's a blogger, so expect lots of well-lit photos of Adler smiling against New York City backdrops (and flatlays of photogenic food/desk supplies).
Image: @adamantlyadler
