Auburn Tigers Olympic Gymnast Suni Lee Stuns in Glamorous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Debut, Embraces Confidence and Representation

Suni Lee’s athletic accomplishments already place her in rarefied air. A decorated Olympic gold medalist, an NCAA champion, and a fierce competitor for the Auburn Tigers, Lee has consistently demonstrated excellence in the gym. But now, the 21-year-old is making waves beyond the world of gymnastics with another high-profile achievement—her debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, where she is not just striking a pose but also sending a powerful message of empowerment, diversity, and growth.

The 2024 SI Swimsuit issue features Suni Lee in a stunning photoshoot captured in the scenic beauty of Porto and the Azores in Portugal. Dressed in elegant yet bold swimwear, Lee strikes a perfect balance between strength and grace. Her poise in front of the camera mirrors the same intensity and composure she brings to a balance beam routine or a floor exercise sequence. But for Lee, this moment means more than just stepping in front of a camera—it’s about embracing herself, representing her heritage, and evolving her identity in the public eye.

Lee becomes one of the few Asian American athletes, and even fewer Southeast Asian women, to appear in the iconic magazine. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to a Hmong-American family, Suni Lee rose to global prominence during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021 due to the pandemic. With Simone Biles stepping away from multiple events, Lee seized her moment and won the all-around gold medal, making history as the first Hmong American to achieve the feat. That win catapulted her to superstardom, but Lee has remained grounded, often using her platform to inspire young girls, particularly from underrepresented communities, to pursue their dreams.

Now, with her appearance in the SI Swimsuit issue, she’s expanding that platform even further.

“It’s something I never thought I’d do,” Lee said in an interview released alongside the photoshoot. “Growing up, I never saw Asian girls who looked like me in this kind of magazine. Being able to represent the Hmong community, to show other girls that they can do anything, even something like this—it means everything.”

Her words resonate deeply in an industry that’s slowly shifting toward broader representation but still grapples with longstanding beauty standards that have marginalized women of color, especially Asian women. Lee’s presence in such a visible and traditionally narrow space challenges these norms. It also celebrates a type of beauty that intertwines athleticism, cultural identity, and confidence.

Lee credits her Auburn experience for helping her grow not only as an athlete but also as a person. Competing for the Tigers in the rigorous SEC gymnastics circuit gave her new challenges—balancing school, sport, fame, and personal development. But it also helped her find herself away from the spotlight of the Olympics. Auburn embraced her, and she gave back with incredible performances, drawing national attention to the program and becoming one of the sport’s most influential figures at the college level.

This photoshoot, while glamorous, is an extension of that personal evolution. It reflects a new chapter in Lee’s life, one that goes beyond medals and routines.

“Gymnastics has always been my first love, but I’m learning that I’m more than just what I do on the mat,” she said. “This shoot gave me a chance to step outside my comfort zone, and I’m proud of what came out of it.”

The SI Swimsuit team praised Lee not only for her visuals but also for the meaning she brings to the project. Editor-in-chief MJ Day said Lee represents “the best of what the modern woman embodies—talent, determination, authenticity, and the power to break barriers.”

“She is redefining what strength and beauty look like,” Day added.

That message is not lost on her fans, especially those in the gymnastics community and at Auburn University, where Lee remains a beloved figure. Auburn’s athletic department celebrated her SI debut with pride, highlighting not only her sporting achievements but also her growing influence beyond the gym. The university’s social media accounts shared clips from her shoot and interview, drawing waves of support from students, fans, and fellow athletes.

Her fellow Tigers athletes applauded her courage and celebrated the way she continues to expand the narrative around what it means to be an athlete, a role model, and a young woman finding her voice. Some said it was inspiring to see someone so dominant in her sport take on a new kind of challenge, one that involves vulnerability and self-expression.

This isn’t the first time Lee has navigated major life moments in the public eye. Since the Olympics, she’s appeared on “Dancing With the Stars,” battled health setbacks that briefly paused her gymnastics career, and been vocal about the racism she’s faced, particularly in the wake of anti-Asian sentiment that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, she’s shown maturity beyond her years and a willingness to speak out.

Her SI Swimsuit debut, then, isn’t just another celebrity moment. It’s a carefully considered, meaningful step in a career that continues to evolve in powerful ways. For Lee, it’s about rewriting narratives—not just about herself, but also about Asian American women, about athletes, and about what it means to be in control of one’s image.

“My journey has been about doing things that scare me and help me grow,” she said. “This is one of those things.”

The photoshoot itself is a masterclass in versatility. Whether she’s posing along a cliffside with the Atlantic Ocean in the background or lounging poolside in high fashion swimwear, Lee embodies elegance and athletic confidence. Her toned frame and graceful lines are a reminder of the power it takes to master her sport, but her relaxed demeanor suggests comfort and self-acceptance that can be harder to come by than any physical feat.

Fans quickly took to social media to praise Lee’s photos, with many calling her look “breathtaking” and “inspirational.” Young gymnasts and Hmong American followers posted heartfelt messages expressing how much it meant to see someone like Lee celebrated in a space historically reserved for a narrow vision of beauty.

Her presence in the issue also aligns with Sports Illustrated’s efforts to modernize the swimsuit edition. In recent years, SI has featured a more diverse roster of women, from different backgrounds, body types, and professions. It’s a shift aimed at celebrating beauty in all its forms, and Lee’s debut adds another layer to that redefinition.

Still, Lee knows that such visibility comes with scrutiny. In a world where social media users can be quick to judge, she has learned to prioritize her mental health and stay grounded.

“I’ve had to learn to tune out the noise and focus on what feels right to me,” she said. “I’ve gotten stronger mentally, and part of that is owning who I am in every space I walk into.”

That strength has been a throughline in her story—from Saint Paul to Tokyo to Auburn to Portugal. And through every leap and pivot, Suni Lee has shown that she is more than her routines, more than her medals, and now, more than the sum of her athletic career.

With her SI Swimsuit debut, she steps boldly into a new arena—one that honors beauty and presence but also demands courage and authenticity. And in true Suni Lee fashion, she’s not just showing up—she’s making history again.

Whether she returns to elite gymnastics competition, continues growing her influence off the mat, or both, Suni Lee has proven that she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her journey is not defined by a single title or role. It is the story of a young woman continually redefining herself, her impact, and her place in the world.

For fans in Auburn, for the Hmong community, for Asian American girls watching with wide eyes, and for everyone who’s ever wondered whether they belong in spaces like this—Suni Lee’s bold step forward answers with a resounding yes.