Danielle Herrington was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. James Macari/Sports Illustrated

Danielle Herrington made her SI Swimsuit debut with Yu Tsai in Fiji in 2017, landed the cover one year later after being photographed by Ben Watts in the Bahamas and returned for a total of five consecutive magazine appearances.

“Becoming a part of the [Sports Illustrated] family has been such a positive thing in my life, personally,” she gushed about her years with the magazine. “[Sports Illustrated] helped me feel a little bit more comfortable with myself, because that was all they were promoting, diversity. Whatever you are, embrace it, own it. That’s what my cover said: ‘Own it.’”

The 30-year-old’s most recent feature in the issue was in 2021, when she posed in Hollywood, Fla. Herrington asked editor in chief MJ Day before the shoot if she could wear her hair in braids, and Day immediately responded with a yes.

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“This is my first shoot ever with braids, and to be here really just feels like the most representative of myself and then also representative of the other young Black girls that are out there,” Herrington said at the time, reflecting on the meaningful decision. “This is so close to my heart and just so … me. It just looks insane. The braids really take it up a notch. For my nieces to see that this is beautiful too—it just really means so much. I felt great up there. I felt like I was Beyoncé with the wind.”

Just four days after wrapping up that shoot with James Macari, the California native found out she was expecting her first baby with her boyfriend Geron McKinley.

Below are six of our favorite photos from her 2021 shoot.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

James Macari/Sports Illustrated

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