Nicole Williams English Returns to Reality TV as 4-Time SI Swimsuit Star Lands 2026 Cover

Q: What secret behind-the-scenes strategy propelled this former WAGS star to a coveted 2026 SI Swimsuit cover?

There was no single hidden industry trick behind Nicole Williams English’s 2026 *SI Swimsuit* cover. By her own account, it was a sustained behind-the-scenes strategy of betting on herself and treating the opportunity like a long game. Williams English said she “worked nonstop,” did schoolwork in hotel rooms, sacrificed time away from her family and kept believing in herself as she built her relationship with the brand. That steady commitment showed up in results: she debuted in 2023 in Dominica while pregnant, returned in 2024 in Mexico, shot again in 2025 in Jamaica, and became a familiar presence through five runway appearances before landing the 2026 cover in Montauk. The pattern suggests that consistency, visibility and reliability inside the *SI Swimsuit* ecosystem propelled her forward more than any flashy shortcut. She had already won 2023 Rookie of the Year, kept returning with strong shoots, and stayed active with the brand on the runway and at major events. In interviews, she framed the cover as the payoff to a dream “over 20 years” in the making. When she finally found out, the reveal itself underscored that long buildup: editor MJ Day and the *SI Swimsuit* team surprised her at home with signs marking each year she had shot, before showing her the 2026 cover. She said she immediately burst into tears. So the real strategy was disciplined persistence: keep showing up, keep delivering, and keep investing in the brand relationship until the breakthrough came.

3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated Swimsuit · Aug 21

Six episodes of Hulu’s “The Girls: A Khloé Kardashian Project” dropped Friday, marking Nicole Williams English’s return to reality TV after her earlier run on Bravo’s “WAGS LA.”
The Hulu appearance coincides with SI Swimsuit revisiting her modeling rise, from 2023 Rookie of the Year to one of 4 cover stars for the 2026 issue.
Her SI run has included annual shoots in 4 locations—Dominica, Mexico, Jamaica and Montauk, New York—with photographer Yu Tsai on the first 3 and Ben Watts in 2026.
Williams English has also appeared in the SI Swimsuit Runway Show 5 times, including a pregnancy reveal with husband and former NFL player Larry English and a 2026 return in Miami.

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Sports Illustrated Lifestyle13h ago

Nicole Williams English Teases What Fans Can Expect From 'The Girls: A Khloé Kardashian Project'

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Nicole Williams English Talks Reality TV Comeback and Her SI Swimsuit Dream

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What secret behind-the-scenes strategy propelled this former WAGS star to a coveted 2026 SI Swimsuit cover?

How will Nicole's reality TV past fuel the unexpected drama brewing inside Khloé Kardashian's inner circle?

Could stepping back into unscripted television drama jeopardize the prestigious modeling empire Nicole built?

Nicole Williams English Returns to Reality TV as 4-Time SI Swimsuit Star Lands 2026 Cover

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