Penny Lane is back — and this time, she took SI Swimsuit all the way to Africa. The British model just landed her third consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2026 feature, and the Botswana shoot might be her most jaw-dropping yet. If you don't know Penny Lane yet, you're about to become a fan.
Photo via SI Swimsuit
From Swim Search Winner to SI Swimsuit Regular
Penny Lane's story is the kind that makes you want to root for someone. In 2023, she won SI Swimsuit's open casting Swim Search competition — one of those rare moments where an underdog actually gets her shot. Her win landed her a rookie spot in the 2024 issue, shot in Portugal, where she more than proved she belonged. Then came Switzerland in 2025. Now, in 2026? She's on the banks of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, photographed by the legendary Ruven Afanador, wearing barely-there string bikini styling against one of the most breathtaking backdrops on the planet.
The 31-year-old Cheshire native is also a certified holistic health coach, and she brings that grounded, authentic energy into everything she does. SI Swimsuit Editor-in-Chief MJ Day put it best: "Beyond her undeniable beauty, what truly captivated us was her authenticity. She uses her own personal journey within the modeling industry to advocate for others, passionately championing inclusivity."
Translation: she's not just here to look good. She's building something real.
The Botswana Shoot: Safari Meets Swim
For 2026, SI Swimsuit partnered with luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent to bring their models to Stanley's Camp and Baines' Lodge — two sanctuaries in the Okavango Delta sitting on the Boro River at the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve. The region is home to an estimated 9,000 species of flora and fauna. It's the kind of landscape that makes every photo feel epic, even if the bikini is minimal.
Joining Penny for the shoot were fellow returners Alix Earle, Achieng Agutu, and Camille Kostek (on her ninth consecutive SI Swimsuit appearance!), plus debut model Meredith Mickelson. When SI Swimsuit shared the first footage from Botswana, Penny's reaction said it all: "Can we please all go back. This video is making me emotional 🥹❤️🫂."
Relatable, honestly.
Photo via OutKick / Getty Images
The Look: String Bikini Confidence Done Right
Penny's Botswana look is pure string bikini energy — barely-there coverage, confident posture, wild natural backdrop. It's the kind of look that reminds you that the right swimsuit isn't about how much (or how little) it covers. It's about how it makes you feel. For the shoot, she wore a PatBO bikini with jewelry from The Invisibles — but the vibe is universal: bold, free, and completely unapologetic.
And that's exactly the energy behind Audi Swim's Bow Babe collection. If Penny Lane's Botswana look has you ready to channel that same confidence — whether it's the beach, a pool, or just your next vacation — here's how to get there:
Get the Look: Penny Lane's String Bikini Energy
- Bow Babe Contrast Top — Pink ($24.99) — Triangle top with contrast detail. The same adjustable-strap, barely-there shape Penny is working in Botswana.
- Bow Babe Contrast Bottoms — Black ($24.99) — Thong cut for maximum coverage-optional confidence. Mix and match or go tonal.
- Bow Babe Contrast Top — Sky Blue ($24.99) — For the bright, editorial beach look that photographs like a magazine shoot.
Made with Audi Swim's Luxe-Flex nylon-spandex (or ECONYL recycled nylon if you're thinking about the planet), these are built to actually stay in place — even if you're, you know, posing in the middle of the African bush.
Want to go deeper on string bikini styling and fit? Check out Everything Swimwear's complete string bikini style guide — it covers fit, how to tie, and how to style for every body type.
Why Penny Lane Is the Inspo We Need Right Now
In a moment where swimwear is getting bolder by the season, Penny Lane is proof that confidence is the only accessory that actually matters. She came up through an open casting call. She went from Swim Search winner to a three-time SI Swimsuit model in two years. She landed in Botswana and said yes to a barely-there bikini against the Okavango Delta. And her big message? You don't have to be born into this industry to make your mark in it.
The full 2026 SI Swimsuit issue hits newsstands in May — and if the Botswana teasers are anything to go by, Penny Lane's feature is going to be one to save.
Want more SI Swimsuit 2026 coverage? Check out Meredith Mickelson's debut shoot from the same Botswana trip, or Camille Kostek's ninth SI Swimsuit appearance — a true legend.
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