Golf influencer Paige Spiranac didn’t know just how life-changing her SI Swimsuit feature in 2018 would be. The social media star, who was just beginning to grow her platform, was pH๏τographed by James Macari in Aruba and, at the time, she felt “stuck” in her transition from a professional athlete to content creator.

The model, who has 3.9 million followers on Instagram and 958,000 fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, has been a trailblazer for women in sports everywhere. From navigating the world of sponsorships and brand deals to changing the stereotypical narrative on how female athletes should dress, Spiranac is a true force of nature. She’s also a major inspiration to fellow SI Swimsuit models like Olivia Dunne.

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“Doing that [pH๏τo] shoot was incredibly empowering. Having MJ [Day, SI Swimsuit editor in chief] there to talk me through it the entire time and build me up, I’ve never been in an environment where I’ve had so many women empower me and lift me up, which is something that we preach all the time, but you don’t really see it in real life.

It was just such a life-changing moment for me,” the 30-year-old gushed with emotion. “It was the most confident and powerful and empowered that I have ever felt, and I carry that now. Whatever I do, that’s a big part of me and a badge that I’ll hold forever, being a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model.”

Below are four phenomenal pH๏τos from the Colorado native’s 2018 pH๏τoshoot in Aruba.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated