St Lucia on the COVER of Sports Illustrated SWIMSUIT ISSUE 2019
May 08, 2019
SAINT LUCIA SHARES SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT 2019 COVER WITH U.S. WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM STAR ALEX MORGAN
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Photo: Alex Morgan on the SI cover, Credit: Ben Watts
CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA (May 2019) — The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia — the only country in the world named after a woman — is proudly featured on the cover of the historic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019, a groundbreaking issue which includes members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and model Halima Aden, the first Muslim model to wear a hijab and burkini in the magazine.
Saint Lucia and Marigot Bay Resort and Marina welcomed a star-studded lineup of players from the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team for the location shoot, including Abby Dahlkemper, Crystal Dunn, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. The award-winning Marigot Bay Resort and Marina was handpicked by the VIP team for its luxurious accommodations, sweeping tropical bay views and five-star amenities. The destination provided an eye-catching setting for the 56th annual issue, with its signature Piton mountains and distinct beaches with palm tree-lined coves.
Shoot locations featured the most iconic and memorable sites of Saint Lucia as a backdrop, including the Piton mountains. Models were photographed enjoying the black volcanic sand beach at Anse Chastanet, the clear turquoise waters of Anse Mamin beach, the lush Toraille Waterfall and the secluded Roseau Beach with verdant banana fields in the background. These spots provided the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 team with opportunities to photograph models in the same uncrowded and breathtaking locations that visitors from around the world enjoy on their own Saint Lucia vacations.
“The lush topography of St. Lucia never disappoints. The striking landscapes are one of our favorites in the Caribbean,” says SI Swimsuit Editor MJ Day.
Marigot Bay Resort and Marina hosted the models and crew, providing the world-class accommodations suited to the VIP team during the shoot. This coveted vacation spot was the ideal jumping off point to explore all Saint Lucia has to offer, including everything from chartering a private yacht from Marigot Marina, relaxing with a treatment from the resort’s new indigenous spa menu, taking in the expansive views of the bay and lush tropical gardens, basking in the sun at the two on-property infinity pools, and enjoying local cuisine at the four on-site dining venues.
Photo: Alex Morgan, Credit: Ben Watts
“As the only nation in the world named after a woman, we proudly welcomed the renowned Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models and team back to Saint Lucia,” said Honourable Dominic Fedee, Tourism Minister for Saint Lucia. “Our destination is unlike any other, with its distinct combination of lush rain forest paired with 100 pristine miles of uncrowded beaches — a perfect backdrop for the powerful women of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019, including the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.”
“It was a true honor for Marigot Bay Resort and Marina to be selected as the host hotel in Saint Lucia for the coveted 56th edition of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue,” said Perle Flavien, Director of Operations at Marigot Bay Resort and Marina. “It was our absolute pleasure to have the inspirational stars of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team stay with us, as they took a break in their rigorous training to visit our island. We can’t wait to cheer them on in the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer.”
Saint Lucia also was featured in the 2014 issue, making this the second time that the destination was chosen by the prestigious magazine as a setting for the global pop culture phenomenon that is the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Most famous for its natural beauty and pristine beaches with clear Caribbean waters, visitors to Saint Lucia enjoy the highly-Instagrammed natural mud baths; world-class diving and snorkeling; and natural wonders including Tet Paul Nature Trail and the signature Pitons.
To see Saint Lucia and Marigot Bay Resort and Marina in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019, check newsstands on May 8 or go to www.si.com/swimsuit.
About Saint Lucia: Saint Lucia is nestled halfway down the Eastern Caribbean archipelago and known for its natural beauty and diverse attractions, including the signature Piton Mountains (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a tropical rainforest, the mud baths at Sulfur Springs Park and one of the world’s few drive-in volcanoes. Culturally rich offerings include quaint coastline fishing villages and the annual Saint Lucia Jazz Festival, programmed in 2019 by world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center. A wide range of accommodations includes five-star hotels, all-inclusive resorts, intimate inns and value-oriented properties. Saint Lucia is continually recognized as a leading wedding and honeymoon destination. Learn more at www.stlucia.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
About Marigot Bay Resort and Marina, Saint Lucia: Located alongside St. Lucia’s Marigot Bay, Marigot Bay Resort and Marina boasts 124 suites, featuring spacious balconies and extensive views of either the bay or lush tropical gardens, with many rooms offering private hot tubs. The Grill at 14°61° offers thoughtfully prepared farm to fork dining under the leadership of Executive Chef Billy Boyle, while guests enjoy breathtaking views of Marigot Bay. An intimate Rum Cave houses specialty local rums and offers rum tasting classes in a space reminiscent of an authentic distillery. Guests are afforded even more luxury at the award-winning onsite Spa Village, which utilizes indigenous ingredients, with signature treatments connected to the phases of the moon. Marigot Bay Marina accommodates some of the most luxurious mega yachts in the world, and guests of the resort are able to arrange exclusive charters. Learn more at www.marigotbayresort.com and follow on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Swimsuit (www.si.com/swimsuit) reaches more than 70 million US adults annually and more men ages 18 to 34 than the Super Bowl. The iconic brand spans 16 product extensions, along with a vibrant experiential marketing business. Since debuting in 1964, Swimsuit has become a pop culture phenomenon and a revered launching pad for successful careers in TV, fashion, business and film. The fashion industry describes SI Swimsuit as the “Oscars of Swimwear,” as an appearance in the issue is a crowning achievement for swimsuit and accessory manufacturers.
