Alix Earle just went through a very public breakup — and she handled it exactly the way you'd expect: with a yacht, her girlfriends, and a white string bikini that broke the internet. The 25-year-old TikTok powerhouse kicked off 2026 by posting a series of sun-drenched Instagram photos that made it crystal clear she wasn't spending any time crying over her split from NFL wide receiver Braxton Berrios.
Same girl who makes getting-ready TikToks in her bathroom. Same girl who built a following of millions being completely, refreshingly herself. She just went and out-glowed everyone — on a yacht, no less.
Photo via Reality Tea / @alix_earle Instagram
Who Is Alix Earle — And Why Everyone's Watching
If you somehow still need an introduction: Alix Earle is the 25-year-old influencer, podcast host, and University of Miami alum who basically invented the modern TikTok "get ready with me" genre and turned it into a media empire. Her show Hot Mess with Alix Earle is a genuine hit. She's partnered with Benefit Cosmetics, Marc Jacobs Beauty, and was the first-ever digital cover star in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit history — a distinction she earned in 2024 when SI shot her across Miami's beaches.
She's also unapologetically real about her skin, her anxiety, her love life — which is exactly why her audience loses their minds every time she posts a bikini photo. This isn't a hyper-produced celebrity shoot. This is a girl who went on a yacht trip, snapped some photos, posted them, and gave every woman watching permission to walk into 2026 like they own it.
The Breakup, the Boat, and the Glow-Up
Earle and Braxton Berrios had been together since around 2023, and the split made headlines in late 2025. Rather than a long social media silence or a tearful story, Alix did something much more powerful: she packed her white string bikini and her best friends, chartered a yacht, and documented it for the world.
The photos she shared are genuinely stunning — crisp white bikini against bronzed skin, relaxed poses that scream total ease. The caption was breezy, the vibe was immaculate. Fans in the comments went predictably feral. "She won the breakup" was the consensus across TikTok within hours.
Photo via Globe Magazine
And really, what is more on-brand for a Miami girl than reclaiming your power on the water? Alix has always been about living out loud — and these photos are an extension of that same energy she brings to everything.
The White String Bikini: Why This Look Works
The bikini itself is the definition of understated confidence: white string triangle top, minimal hardware, clean lines. No statement print, no embellishment fighting for attention — just a great silhouette that puts all the focus on the person wearing it. White bikinis are having a serious moment right now. They photograph beautifully, layer well with cover-ups, and — as Alix just proved — look incredible against tan skin on a sun-drenched deck. The simplicity is the statement.
Get the Look: Alix Earle's String Bikini Energy, Under $60
You do not need a yacht charter to channel Alix Earle's post-breakup confidence. You need the right string bikini — one with that same clean, minimalist silhouette that photographs like a dream and feels bold without trying too hard.
The Bow Babe Contrast Top in Sky Blue ($30) gives you the exact same adjustable triangle string energy — feminine, sleek, and endlessly flattering. Pair it with the Bow Babe Contrast Bottoms in Sky Blue ($30) for a coordinated look that is pure spring 2026 energy.
Prefer to go a little darker? The Bow Babe Contrast Top in Black ($30) with the Bow Babe Contrast Bottoms in Black ($25) delivers the same minimalist silhouette with an edge — perfect for a yacht day or the beach bar after.
All made from Audi Swim's Luxe-Flex nylon-spandex blend — lightweight, supportive, and designed to stay put whether you are sunbathing, swimming, or jumping off the back of a boat. The whole set rings in well under $60, and Alix would absolutely approve.
New to the micro-string style? Audi Swim's guide Your First Thong Bikini: The Honest Guide to Going For It has everything you need to make the leap confidently — fit tips, style advice, and how to wear it at any beach destination.
Why Alix Earle Is the Swimwear Icon We Actually Needed
Sports Illustrated has put supermodels and A-list actresses on their cover for decades. When they chose a 24-year-old TikTok creator for their first-ever digital cover, it was an acknowledgment that Alix Earle represents what swimwear confidence looks like for a generation that grew up online — imperfections, anxiety, acne posts and all.
She has talked openly about her skin, her mental health, and her relationships, and still posted bikini photos with zero hesitation. That is the energy. Not "I am perfect and here is my body" — but "I like my body and I am going on this yacht and here we are." It is genuinely contagious confidence, and it is exactly why these photos landed so hard.
Spring is here, and if Alix's yacht photos are any indicator, 2026 is going to be a very good year for women who are done apologizing for taking up space in a great bikini.
For more celebrity swimwear moments this season, see Eileen Gu's SI Swimsuit photos after her Olympic gold — another first-of-her-kind woman who proved sports and style are not mutually exclusive. And for the full spring celebrity round-up, check out Celebrity Bikini Looks Dominating March 2026.
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