Every year, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue enlists a roster of swimsmoke rookies and provides them with the tools of ink and body paint necessary to reach the pinnacle of the swimsmoke profession. While SI controls which newbie is awarded the coveted "SI Rookie" distinction, the magazine also opens it up to a vote, where the people who have spent the most time analyzing each frame and scrutinizing over every spec of body paint, the readers, can voice their opinion. I am one of those people.
2014 has the deepest roster of rookies in some time, with superstar Emily Ratajkowski and Victoria’s Secret Angel Lily Aldridge making maiden appearances in the soft-core mag. But they aren't true rookies, because the country has grown accustomed to their various states of undress for years now. The green two-piece who’s stood out the most for me is 22-year-old Texan Hannah Ferguson.
Count Hannah among statuesque SI swimsmokes such as Anne V and Rebecca Romijn, as opposed to the more voluptuous Kate Upton and Chrissy Teigen. You can see what I mean by perusing the photo below.
More notably, Hannah is, like myself, a Marine Brat, with her mother being a Drill Instructor and her father a sniper. That means Hannah is both disciplined and accurate, two things SI looks for in a swimsmoke.
Hannah can’t get more American: Her hobbies include baking and heading to the gun range. Now that's how you hold a rifle, Alison Lundergan Grimes. Jean shorts, black Nikes, and all.
With her flexibility and grace, Hannah says she's often mistaken for a dancer.
I don't know Hannah, you sure looks like you've attended a dance class or two.
Hannah Ferguson: My pick for the 2014 SI Swimsuit Rookie of the Year.
