10th Sports Illustrated's Swimwear issue

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10th Sports Illustrated's Swimwear issue

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Sports Illustrated's iconic Swimwear edition and to mark the occasion Sports Illustrated has produced its sexiest Swimwear issue ever. The Sports Illustrated Swimwear issue, brought to you by Nashua, is on sale from Monday 15th October and features the stunning sun-kissed bodies of South Africa's most beautiful models in the summer's hottest bikinis.

The eleven 2007 Swimwear models are: Minki van der Westhuizen; Dominique Piek; Lieschen Botes; Jenna Pietersen; Michelle Cowley; Joelle Kayembe; Megan McKenzie; Gabriella Davids; Italian stunner Catrinel Menghia; Justine Gundelfinger; and Sports Illustrated's New Model Search winner, Elbe van der Merwe.

Earlier this year the models jetted off to one of the most pristine locations in the world – the breathtaking island of Pangkor Laut off the coast of Malaysia. With its tropical waters and deserted white beaches, photographers Settimio Benedusi, Warwick Saint and Wahb Mabkhout captured the models in all their beauty.

At an exclusive VIP party held at Taboo in Johannesburg on Friday 12th October, Dominique Piek was revealed as the Sports Illustrated Swimwear cover model. The 21-year-old Capetonian started modelling when she was just 14-years-old after being spotted by a scout, and from those early days Dominique's career sky rocketed. As a 17-year-old she went on to win the Sports Illustrated Swimwear New Model Search competition and was featured in the 2003 Swimwear issue also shot in Malaysia. After finishing school, Dominique travelled extensively and has modelled for top women's magazines, as well as in campaigns for Kookai, Esprit, and Ralph Lauren.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by Cape Town-based melodic-rock band Flat Stanley. The MC for the event was Highveld 94.7's Darren Simpson. Celebrities spotted at the event included Joe van Niekerk, Morne Morkel, Gareth Cliff, Randal Abrahams, Colin Moss, Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling amongst others.

Photographs courtesy of Sports Illustrated and Julian Cole.