Brooklyn Decker is the definition of a seasoned SI Swimsuit model. Beginning with her debut in 2006, she took part in six consecutive photoshoots for the brand, culminating in her 2011 trip to both Hawaii and Peter Island, British Virgin Islands.
In her fourth year, the American model traveled to the Grenadines with photographer Raphael Mazzucco for a photoshoot on the tropical paradise, Canouan Island. While there, the 36-year-old reflected on her early modeling days and how she got her start.
“I started modeling locally [and] it started going well,” she told the SI Swimsuit team. “I graduated high school on a Friday, and I moved to New York the following Wednesday. It’s been amazing ever since.”
Her first brand feature in 2006, which took her to Colombia with photographer Tiziano Magni, was also her first time leaving the United States. Decker expressed gratitude for the ability to travel, which modeling has provided her.
“I love what I do and I think traveling has been a great education for me,” she said.
Though Decker had much more experience by the time her 2009 photoshoot in the Grenadines came around, she admitted to some nerves on set. “I remember my first year being a rookie [and] a few of the girls that I looked up to so much—it was their fourth and fifth years,” she explained. “Now I’m there, so it’s kind of scary.”
But despite the nerves, the mother of two was so grateful for the opportunity to return to the magazine year after year. “It’s incredible, every year I get asked back and it’s my favorite shoot every year.”