Denise Bidot Flaunts Her Curves in Teeny-Tiny Bikini as “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit” Rookie: ‘Jumping for Joy’

Denise Bidot is keeping things sexy!

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit released the first official photo of the model, 38 — who will be featured in the 2025 issue as a Rookie, the brand announced on Jan. 30. She's widely recognized as a trailblazer for curvy women, encouraging others to embrace their bodies.

Bidot's first photo sees her in a green bikini with a stringy top that cinches in the middle and high-leg bottoms. The bathing suit is embellished with gold accents, including a beaded detail on the bottoms across her waist.

Related: Denise Bidot Speaks Out About Her Stretch Marks in 'SI' Swim Ad: 'I Am Unapologetic About My Body'

Her look comes together with the addition of thick gold bangles on her right wrist and leaf-shaped earrings. Bidot's hair flows in natural beachy waves, with soft makeup for an organic glam look.

On Instagram, Bidot's photo was met with overwhelming love and support for the model. In the comments, Bidot shared her gratitude for the chance to be featured.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!! Thank you for this insane opportunity. I truly am at a loss for words. Thank you to everyone involved, it really takes a village," she wrote, adding, "I'm still jumping for joy. THANK YOU🥹🙏🏽🥳."

In a video posted by SI Swimsuit on Instagram, Bidot is seen in another bikini — this time, it's a bright rainbow-striped suit. The top's scoop neckline meets thin straps that give an open collarbone moment, and the bottoms — also high-leg — appear to tie at the hips beside a brown bead detail.

She poses with white-rimmed sunglasses — then black sunglasses, to switch it up — on a purple beach towel, giggling and posing for the camera.

Related: Curvy Model Denise Bidot Embraced Her Size After Watching Her Mom's Struggles

Bidot originally wanted to be an actress or forge a career in the beauty and makeup industry before she became a model, she told the outlet. She began modeling for Forever 21, Old Navy, Target and Nordstrom, later securing gigs with Olay, Elomi Lingerie and Tribe 35 — and hopes Kim Kardashian's SKIMS is in her future.

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For Bidot, it's really important for her to align with the brands she models for.

“[There’s] no better feeling than organically working with brands you already love because your audience can always tell,” she said. “I think actually liking the product is so important, at least for me. That makes everything else a lot easier and allows you to create content your audience will enjoy because they can see you enjoy it for real. The camera doesn’t lie.”

Off camera, Bidot is passionate about being a good mother to daughter Joselyn Adams and often amplifies the accomplishments and strength of other moms. Her advocacy extends to supporting charities that assist families separated at the United States-Mexico border, like This Is About Humanity, and she's taken part in a number of service trips to shelters across the border, she shared.

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