When Yumi Nu puts her mind to something, nothing can get in her way. The model, musician and entrepreneur is a true triple-threat and we’re so glad she’s part of the SI Swimsuit family. The 27-year-old, who made her debut with the magazine in 2021, landed the cover just one year later, and made history as the first plus-sized woman of Asian descent to appear on the front of an issue following her photoshoot with James Macari in Montenegro. That same year, she made history again as the first plus-sized Vogue Japan solo cover model.
“To be a part of making history like this, it’s like a childhood wound is closing,” she told fellow brand model Camille Kostek on the red carpet during the ’22 issue’s launch party in New York City. “I get to be representation for people like me who are younger, and that means so much to me. This is truly groundbreaking in so many ways and we’re making history in so many ways in this issue.”
The New Jersey native returned to the fold last year, and stunned in her ethereal and extraterrestrial-inspired feature with photographer Amanda Pratt in Dominica.
Today, Nu is the owner and designer of ethically-sourced, size-inclusive clothing brand, Blueki, which she founded in October 2022. She has also released multiple EPs and singles and is constantly working on her career as an emerging musician. She first began writing her own songs at the age of 12.
Below are five jaw-dropping photos from her 2023 SI Swimsuit photoshoot in Dominica.
