Jena Sims Recalls ‘Trying Not to Shake’ in Her ‘Pasties’ During Her Freezing 2026 “SI Swimsuit” Shoot (Exclusive)
Jena Sims Recalls ‘Trying Not to Shake’ in Her ‘Pasties’ During Her Freezing 2026 “SI Swimsuit” Shoot (Exclusive)
Skyler CarusoThu, May 14, 2026 at 6:53 PM UTC
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Jena Sims attends the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Ceremony on Jan. 6, 2026.
Credit: Denise Truscello/Getty for Sports Illustrated
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Jena Sims sat down with PEOPLE to chat about her fourth consecutive appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue this year
The model revealed the behind-the-scenes realities of the photo shoot in Florida that viewers wouldn't know just by looking at the published photos
She gushed about why the shoot "was worth it" and got nostalgic about her journey working with the brand since her Rookie Year
Jena Sims is keeping it real.
The model, 37, explains to PEOPLE why shooting her fourth consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in the cold was "worth it," despite the freezing temperatures that coincidentally hit the Florida location where she shot this year.
"It was end of January," Sims tells PEOPLE exclusively of when her shoot took place. "We had this weird cold snap that does not ... Where I live in Jupiter, it was 30 degrees. That has never happened. That was crazy."
Jena Sims poses for the 2026 "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit" issue.
Credit: Katherine Goguen/Sports Illustrated
Sims, who's married to pro golfer Brooks Koepka and is no stranger to the Sunshine State, started sharing behind-the-scenes clips from her photo shoot on her Instagram, where she's known to be super candid and expose the unfiltered realities of her life.
Of her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit experience this time around, she plans to do the same.
"I'm going to be posting more videos and things for my shoot because all my friends see my photos and they're like, 'Oh my gosh. I had no idea. You didn't look freezing!'" she shares, noting that those comments "feel good" to hear.
Jena Sims and Brooks Koepka with their son, Crew.
Credit: Jena Sims Koepka Instagram
"It makes me feel like I'm doing the job of swimsuit modeling," she explains. "But in the video, if you really look at my skin, I'm covered in just goosebumps. It was so cold. And if you look at everyone else on set, they're all in scarves and layers with hand warmers and boots!"
"And I'm in there with my pasties, and just trying to not to shake — but it was worth it," Sims makes clear.
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The model, who shares 3-year-old son Crew with Koepka, was nostalgic about her return to the magazine's iconic pages. She got a bit emotional, too, while reflecting on her Rookie Year, when she was postpartum with her first child.
"My first year with Sports Illustrated, I was still pumping," Sims remembers. "I was only maybe four-and-a-half months postpartum my very first time, so there were so many emotions and hormones associated with that."
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Jena Sims attends PEOPLE x InStyle Pit-Stop Party during 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix weekend.
Credit: Alekandra London/Getty
"I remember right when I wrapped, I just cried and cried and cried and like hugged MJ Day," she continues, making reference to the SI Swimsuit editor in chief. "I was like, 'Oh my God.' But now I'm just so much more confident and I know my angles and I know my body better now."
For Sims, her four-year journey working with the iconic brand has been an evolution. Her goal for this year's shoot has evolved as well, and she proudly accomplished it.
"Every year it just feels more official," she says. "Like my rookie year, I'm just basically trying to get through it because it was my biggest dream in life. Second year, I was working on more of my poses and this year I was just really focused on having fun and being present and I think I did that."
Sims was photographed by Katherine Goguen in Fort Myers, Fla., for the 2026 SI Swimsuit issue alongside models Katie Austin, Christen Goff, Gabi Moura, Olandria, Jasmine Sanders and Ellie Thumann.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
