Ming Lee Simmons Was 'Elated' to Make Her “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ”Rookie Debut: 'Bucket List' Item (Exclusive)

Ming Lee Simmons has officially joined Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s 2025 Rookie class!

The 25-year-old model — and eldest daughter of Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons — will make her debut in the forthcoming 2025 issue, the magazine announced in a digital story “introducing” the model on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

In a preview of her SI Swimsuit spread, which will hit stands in the full issue in May, the model poses in a yellow string bikini from Lybethras, showing off her toned figure, glowy complexion and dainty, fine-line tattoos. In other behind-the-scenes photos from the photo shoot at Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa in Jamaica, she rocked a flowy, white co-ord.

Related: Kimora Lee Simmons Celebrates Daughter Ming Lee's 25th Birthday by Twinning in Matching Suits

She also teased the rest of the shoot — and its colorful bikini looks — in a video on the magazine’s Instagram. In the clip, cameras flash as Ming keeps covered in a black satin robe while carrying several swimsuits (yellow bikini included!) in her hand.

The teaser earned love from fellow SI Swimsuit models Hunter McGrady and Olivia Dunne, who wrote, “Ok literally breathtaking,” and “OMGGGG YAY ILY,” respectively.

Ming — who has previously modeled for brands including SKIMS, Good American and Tiffany & Co. — also posted the teaser shot in an Instagram post of her own, sharing a black-and-white version of the snap, plus the original, full-color shot. “She’s an SI rookie 🥰👙,” she wrote alongside the shot. “Thank you so much @si_swimsuit for having me as one of your 2025 rookies, it’s such an honor ❤︎.”

The model echoed this in a statement to PEOPLE. "It was such an honor to be chosen as one of the SI Swimsuit rookies for the 2025 issue," she said, recalling how "elated" she was when she got the invite, because it's "has been on my work bucket list for so long."

"It can be nerve-racking shooting with a new team, especially for something like swim, but I felt so safe," she added. "I had the best day on set — the whole SI team is so sweet and welcoming.”

Related: Kimora Lee Simmons Twins with Daughter Ming Lee, 23, in Cutout Black Dresses: 'LBD for She and Me'

Speaking with SI Swimsuit ahead of her debut, Ming also opened up about some of her health struggles, including PCOS, endometriosis and scoliosis, for which she underwent a spinal fusion surgery about a decade ago. The procedure left a scar, which the model said she used to hide, but now shows off proudly.

“I never thought I’d be doing something like this,” she told the magazine. “But now, my scar has become one of my favorite parts about my body.”

The SI Swimsuit Rookie also discussed the work she does outside of modeling — including her Wildflower Cases collab and working with younger sister Aoki, 22, on mom Kimora’s fashion empire, Baby Phat. (Ming currently works as a creative director at the brand, which her model-turned-businesswoman mom, 49, bought back in 2019 after nearly a decade.)

Related: Kimora Lee Simmons Celebrates 'Mini-Me' Daughter Ming Lee's 24th Birthday: 'My Beauty Inside and Out'

“Projects or partnerships that value my input and voice excite me the most,” she told the magazine. “[Ones] where I feel like I am actively a part of the process, not just a ‘filler’ person, but rather, the brand wants to hear what I think looks better, they want me to help conceptualize the campaign, they want my ideas, they want my critiques, they want me apart of the beginning, middle and end stages… that excites me, because that’s a true collaboration or partnership.”

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The model and creative director also said that she loves “designing pieces that will be a part of people’s everyday lives and that are easy to integrate into their existing closets," or, in other words, “easy pieces that leave room for self-expression through other aspects of an outfit like hair and make-up.”

“I really don’t like it when a piece is only able to be worn once in a specific way,” she added. “In my family we are high/low girls. There’s room for mass, moderation and luxury. Not everything in your closet must cost a fortune.”

Read the original article on People