Harbour Island, The Bahamas was the location for a blockbuster reunion of eight of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue’s most legendary supermodels in July 2005 and the stunning results appear on the cover and in a massive 40-page layout in the 2006 issue which hits newsstands today.
This special issue of the magazine, which attracts 64 million readers, has grown into one of the most coveted assignments for the world’s most recognized models. Destinations across the globe compete fiercely for selection as a backdrop for the multiple layouts required for each year’s issue and landing the cover is considered nothing short of an extreme honor. Sports Illustrated clearly loves The Bahamas, as this marks the second consecutive year that a Bahamas shoot has graced the cover – Carolyn Murphy and Andros appeared on the 2005 cover – and the first time in 30 years that the same destination has appeared on back-to-back covers. What’s more, with so many islands to choose from, the magazine elected to shoot not one, but two layouts in The Bahamas for these issues, this year traveling to Cat Island in October and last year to Exuma.
“We are extremely honored to be part of such an historic edition of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and are ecstatic to once again have landed the cover” said Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Tourism for The Islands Of The Bahamas. “The Islands Of The Bahamas has established an international reputation as a destination with spectacular beaches, warm weather and even warmer people – perfect amenities for accommodating the needs of challenging productions like Sports Illustrated. We are ready for our close up.”
Coral Sands Harbour Island was the location for the shoot, July 24 – Aug. 3, 2005, which reunited eight of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s most famous faces. Carolyn Murphy, from last year’s cover shot on Andros, was joined by Elsa Benitez, Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Rachel Hunter, Elle Macpherson, Daniela Pestova, Rebecca Romijn and Veronica Varekova, who assembled on the three mile pink sand beach for the magazine’s biggest shoot ever. The site was selected not just for its world-famous beach, but also for the opportunity to use Coral Sands Harbour Island, which has recently completed a $2 million renovation of the property.
“The Coral Sands hotel is one of the most charming hotels in The Bahamas which happens to be situated smack on the famous coral sand beaches of Harbour Island,” said Diane Smith, editor of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. “Upon arriving at Coral Sands, you feel like you just checked into one of the loveliest, most comfortable private homes that happens to have a spectacular vintage bar, a beachfront bistro, a very secluded swimming pool and an extensive library of art books. It is the ultimate in getting away from it all.”
This extensive 40-page layout, the product of 10 days of sunrise and sunset shoots, was the most demanding the magazine has undertaken in putting together the Swimsuit Issue. The crew for the shoot swelled to 27 including the creative director, editors, photography staff, hair and makeup. A television crew for Sports Illustrated was also on hand to capture the behind-the-scenes story for a televised special on the making of the issue.
It took plenty of sacrifice to accomplish the carefree, windblown look of the models frolicking on the famed pink sand of Harbour Island. Given the needs of this massive production, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in Nassau and Harbour Island worked with the editors to coordinate the logistics of moving cast, crew, equipment and hundreds of swimsuits to their island location, while Coral Sands Harbour Island allowed Sports Illustrated to essentially take over the resort for the duration of the shoot, ensuring the hotel’s management and staff provided the utmost in personalized service and support. Day to day needs for the small army were met by local production assistants Dwight Stewart and Dannard Anderson, who quickly became popular with the crew and models alike by introducing them to traditional Bahamian treats such as coconut bread from Arthur’s Bakery.
“In my eight years as an editor at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit where I have planned countless shoots, I can honestly say I have never been faced with one more challenging” said MJ Day, associate editor. “I rarely, if ever, come off of a shoot, no matter what the size or importance feeling the way that I did about The Bahamas shoot in July and think the pictures will attest to the wonderful experience we had.”
After the stellar experience on Harbour Island, the Sports Illustrated crew moved on to Cat Island, Oct. 23-31, 2005 for an additional shoot with models Bridget Hall, Marisa Miller and Daniella Sarahyba. Fernandez Bay Village was host for this shoot and the resulting exposure will only add to hotel’s established reputation as a getaway. The beachfront resorts of The Bahamas are uniquely well suited to accommodate these productions and the entire crew appreciated the ease of merely stepping outside the door to reach their set.
“We absolutely loooooved it, it was like staying in your dream beach house” said Jennifer Kaplan, associate editor, of their experience at Fernandez Bay. “The home cooked meals, the staff, the garden showers, the wonderful beach. It was the ideal spot for a shoot and if you’re looking to escape that is truly the spot.”
For more than 40 years, the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has proven to be one of the most highly anticipated issues of the year, drawing an estimated 64 million readers. In addition, each year Sports Illustrated produces a “Behind the Scenes and On-Location” special that is sold to cable networks including ESPN and Spike TV and should prominently feature footage from both shoots in The Bahamas. The 2006 issue featuring The Islands Of The Bahamas can be found on newsstands in the U.S. until May 23.
The Bahama Journal
