Model, fashion designer, and prominent sports personality Jena Sims commanded the red carpet at the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue launch party in New York City, solidifying her status as a primary fixture within the legacy media brand.
The 37-year-old entrepreneur—who is married to five-time major golf champion Brooks Koepka—arrived at the exclusive celebration hosted at the Hard Rock Hotel in Times Square on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Sims opted for a high-fashion, avant-garde aesthetic, wearing a structured, sheer floor-length overlay paired with a minimalist tonal bralette and knee-high leather boots, styled by her long-term editorial team.
Sims’ professional trajectory within the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit franchise serves as a prominent case study for modern digital talent acquisition.
She initially entered the brand’s ecosystem by participating in the annual SI Swimsuit Swim Search open casting call, ultimately securing her breakthrough rookie feature in Bermuda.
Following unprecedented digital engagement metrics and positive critical reception, Sims was officially named the publication’s reigning Rookie of the Year.
For the newly unveiled 2026 print and digital editions, she transitioned to full-time roster status, traveling to elite coastal locations to capture a series of premium, high-fashion athletic swimwear portfolios.
The star-studded Times Square launch event served as a major convergence of contemporary internet culture and mainstream sports entertainment, featuring a highly publicized carpet lineup that included:
- 2026 Cover Icons: Actress Tiffany Haddish, digital media powerhouse Alix Earle, and fashion model Nicole Williams English.
- Brand Ambassasors: Multimillion-follower LSU gymnastics alumna Olivia “Livvy” Dunne, media personality Brooks Nader, and Danish supermodel Nina Agdal.
Prior to walking the carpet, Sims utilized her personal social media platforms to grant her 342,000 Instagram followers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the high-stakes fitting process inside the Sports Illustrated dressing suites, captioning the viral video clip as “LAUNCH WEEK ENERGY!”
Sims’ high-profile red carpet appearance coincided with a demanding professional weekend for her husband, Brooks Koepka.
The elite LIV Golf athlete is currently competing at the prestigious PGA Championship—a tournament he has historically dominated with three individual titles.
While Sims orchestrated media appearances in New York, Koepka opened his championship campaign by carding a disciplined 1-under-par round to remain within striking distance of the weekend leaderboard.
Addressing accredited sports journalists in his post-round press conference, Koepka offered a highly candid assessment of his technical performance during the 2026 season.
He noted a stark dichotomy in his current athletic form, explaining that while his ball-striking metrics remain phenomenal, his short-game performance and putting execution have presented substantial hurdles.
Despite these tactical frustrations, the champion expressed confidence in his physical conditioning and structural swing mechanics, stating his intent to adjust his putting lines ahead of the cut line movement.
Sims continues to effectively manage her dual identity as a high-tier fashion influencer and supportive sports spouse.
Beyond her editorial modeling commitments, she operates the “Page-Eleven” charitable initiative, which provides designer prom dresses to underprivileged youth, utilizing her expanding Sports Illustrated platform to drive philanthropic awareness and modern female empowerment.