Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated
Earlier this year, having won the 2022 Swim Search, SI Swimsuit’s annual open casting call, Mady Dewey found herself working in Puerto Rico with photographer Ben Watts. The results of their efforts will be seen next week as the CEO and podcast host returns to the fold as a rookie in the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Mady as the Swim Search ’22 winner and rookie for the 2023 issue,” says MJ Day, SI Swimsuit editor in chief. “Her dedication to creating change mixed with her professionalism and positive attitude combine brilliantly—She is a force to be reckoned with!”
Dewey, who almost didn’t apply for the Swim Search, traveled to the Dominican Republic as a finalist in that program last year. She says she is thrilled to be back for her rookie year, working with a franchise she deems bold, empowering, feminine, strong and progressive.
Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated
“I can’t even describe how it feels to be a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie,” Dewey says. “Like I say it out loud, and I still don’t fully recognize that that’s what’s happening right now. It’s an honor. I cannot even begin to explain how grateful I am for the chance to even do this once, let alone now to get to come back and be a rookie and just to have the opportunity to try something new, try something outside of what I do day in and day out has been such a joy.”
Despite a bit of rain on the morning of her photo shoot, Dewey says she and the SI Swimsuit team all brought incredible energy to set and the day turned out amazingly.
“I really appreciate how we just came together and we’re like, we’re gonna make this happen, and we totally did,” she says. “We’re using so many fun props and like different positions. Last time I was just on the beach, so it’s really fun to just be exploring all around this time.”
Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated
As for working with Watts, Dewey is incredibly complimentary of the visual artist and refers to him as “a dream.”
“I was so excited when I found out that I was shooting with him, just the energy of the photos, I could tell that he was my type of person and I was proven correct,” Dewey shares. “He is so amazing. [His] energy is fun, he’s made me laugh, he’s just hyped me up the entire time. I couldn’t imagine a better person to be with.”
In addition to her work with SI Swimsuit, the Santa Clarita, Calif., native is a content creator, the cofounder and CEO of social media app Herd and product marketing manager at Discord. She hopes her feature with SI Swimsuit will serve as inspiration to other women that you can, in fact, adopt a multifaceted approach to success and fulfill more than just one dream at a time.
Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated
“One of the biggest reasons why I did this was because I felt like [as] someone who works in a tech environment, I didn’t see people that were going after their creative dreams or their dreams outside of just their career, it felt like you had to be placed into this box, like you could only be someone who was smart or career motivated,” Dewey tearfully explains. “And I did this because I want women to see that they can do everything that they want. They can break the stereotype of what a person in their industry looks like, and I just hope that I can be that person for other girls.”
As for those who have aspirations of entering the modeling industry through the Swim Search open casting call, Dewey says that the only requirement is a positive outlook.
Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated
“Look at success as just the journey. I think it’s so easy to get in your head before you even apply, saying like, ‘Am I gonna get it? Am I worthy? What’s going to happen?’ that you stop yourself from putting yourself out there, but even going and applying is a win,” Dewey says. “Like taking that first step and saying, ‘I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna go after what I want,’ that’s a win. And then everything from there is just a bonus. It doesn’t matter what happens as the outcome, you meet so many amazing people along the way as well.”
Get ready for the hottest event of the year! The 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue is just around the corner, and you won’t want to miss the Swimsuit Issue Launch Party. Secure your tickets now and join us for an unforgettable weekend of glamour, beauty and fun.
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