Alix Earle’s Sports Illustrated coverage expanded on Tuesday after the TikTok creator and Reale Actives founder was announced as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model for the 2026 issue.
The announcement came with behind-the-scenes footage from Earle’s January photoshoot in Botswana, where she posed in multiple swimsuits against safari landscapes.
Earle called the cover an honour and a privilege, describing the shoot as one of the best days of her life. The feature marks another step in her move from TikTok fame into mainstream entertainment.
The shoot took place at Stanley’s Camp and Baines’ Lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, near the Moremi Game Reserve. The area is known for waterways, open plains and wildlife including elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs and zebras.
The 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue also features singer Hilary Duff, comedian Tiffany Haddish and model Nicole English among its cover talent. Former cover model Camille Kostek returned for another shoot in Botswana.
The issue’s wider roster includes gymnast Olivia Dunne, Olympian Ilona Maher, WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Sophie Cunningham, and sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Beyond the magazine launch, Earle is expanding her beauty and entertainment work through Reale Actives and an unscripted Netflix series scheduled to premiere later this year.
