Nicole Williams English stepped out in a 2003 vintage Roberto Cavalli dress, styled by Margot Zamet, for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2026 launch party, held on Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel New York. The event took place inside The Venue on Music Row, the hotel’s two-story performance space, and brought together this year’s cover stars and contributors.

Williams English described her relationship with the franchise as “one of the most meaningful milestones of her career,” she told WWD.

“The first time [she posed for SI], I was pregnant with my daughter India, so it was such a transformative and emotional time in my life already, which made the experience even more meaningful. Since then, I’ve grown with the brand and become really close to the team and we are like family…a lot of my close friends have been shooting with SI for many years and shot covers over the years and so it’s amazing to see everyone just supporting each other and routing for one another.…It’s a sisterhood for sure!” 

This year’s issue marks a shift in tone for her shoot, which was photographed in Montauk rather than a traditional tropical location. “The whole vibe was much more coastal,” she said. “We shot in unexpected locations — John’s Drive-In, The Memory Motel, on the docks — and in places that felt very authentic to Montauk.”

Her cover image, she noted, came at the end of the day. “My cover shot ended up being the final shot of the night — on the beach as the sun was setting.”

The launch event drew a wide range of attendees featured in this year’s issue, including Camille Kostek, Hunter McGrady, Jasmine Sanders, Olivia Dunne and Brooks Nader, among others. The evening also included a surprise performance by Fetty Wap, who performed a set featuring “Trap Queen,” “679” and “Again.”

See photos of Nicole Williams English getting ready for the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Launch Party.