You probably know the name, or at least the face. Maybe you remember her from that DirecTV commercial with the talking horse, or perhaps you've seen her courtside with a certain New York Yankees legend. But for most of us, Hannah Davis (now Jeter) is the woman who redefined what a swimsuit cover could look like in the modern era.
It wasn’t just about the bikini. It was the vibe.
Growing up in St. Thomas, Davis wasn't some manufactured starlet looking for a shortcut to Hollywood. She was a nationally ranked tennis player. She spent her days on the Caribbean circuit, sweating through matches under a tropical sun, long before she ever stepped in front of a high-fashion lens. That athlete’s grit? It’s exactly why she didn't just fade away after her rookie year.
The Cover That Broke the Internet
Let’s talk about 2015. Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago, but that year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue caused a genuine stir. When the cover was revealed on The Tonight Show, people lost their minds. Davis was pictured pulling down the waistband of her bikini bottoms just a fraction of an inch—a move that some critics called "too risqué" for a mainstream magazine.
She didn't blink.
"It's a girl in a bikini," she basically told the critics at the time. She argued it was empowering, not degrading. Looking back, she was right. Compared to what we see on Instagram today, it was almost quaint, but it cemented her status as more than just another model. She became a cultural flashpoint.
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She appeared in the magazine five times between 2013 and 2017. Most models are lucky to get one shot. To be a recurring face in that world requires a level of consistency and professionalism that most people don't see behind the scenes.
More Than Just a Pretty Face on a Farm
One of the most interesting things about that famous 2015 shoot was the location. While most covers are shot on white-sand beaches in the Maldives or Tahiti, Davis was photographed on a farm in Blackberry Farm, Tennessee.
It was a pivot.
She wore Western-inspired gear—boots, denim, and yes, that controversial bikini. It proved she could sell a lifestyle, not just a vacation. This versatility is likely why brands like Ralph Lauren, Levi’s, and Victoria’s Secret kept her on speed dial for years. She was the face of Ralph Lauren’s Ralph Rocks fragrance, which, if you were around in the mid-2000s, was basically everywhere.
Life After the Runway: The Jeter Era
In 2016, she married Derek Jeter. The world collectively gasped. Jeter, the ultimate bachelor of New York sports, had finally settled down. But if you expected Hannah to become a "Real Housewife" type or a constant presence on red carpets, you’ve got her all wrong.
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She’s fiercely private.
Since the couple moved to Miami, she’s shifted her focus almost entirely to motherhood. They have four children now: three daughters (Bella, Story, and River) and a son (Kaius) born in May 2023. She’s been open about the reality of it all, too. She once joked about gaining 70 pounds during her first pregnancy and "going into hiding" because she didn't feel like the supermodel the world expected her to be.
It’s that kind of honesty that keeps her relevant. She isn't trying to sell you a perfect, filtered life 24/7. In fact, she hardly posts on social media at all. In an era where every celeb is a "content creator," her silence is actually kind of refreshing.
Career Milestones and Entrepreneurship
While she’s stepped back from the grind of daily modeling, her footprint is still visible.
- TV Hosting: She hosted Project Runway: Junior from 2015 to 2017, showing a maternal, encouraging side to the young designers.
- Business: She’s dabbled in the business side of things, including her own swimwear ventures and partnering with Derek on various projects.
- Philanthropy: She is a huge advocate for the U.S. Virgin Islands, especially following the devastation of Hurricane Maria.
She’s basically built a life that balances the high-octane world of celebrity with the quiet, sun-drenched roots of her childhood in St. Thomas.
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about Hannah Davis swimsuit model history is that she was just a "find" for Sports Illustrated. In reality, she’d been modeling since she was 14. She did the New York hustle. She walked the runways for Tommy Hilfiger and appeared in Elle and FHM long before the bikini shoots started.
She wasn't a "overnight success." She was a veteran by the time the world learned her name.
Today, she and Derek are worth an estimated $210 million combined. They're a power couple, but they’re a power couple that values the school run more than the Met Gala. If you're looking to understand her career, don't just look at the 2015 cover. Look at the ten years of work that led up to it.
Next Steps for Followers
If you're following the trajectory of iconic models transitioning into business and family life, keep an eye on her recent brand partnerships. While she’s "retired" from the heavy lifting of fashion weeks, her occasional appearances in high-end commercials—like the 2024 Jeep ads with her husband—show she still has that "it" factor.
For those interested in her early work, the Sports Illustrated archives remain the best place to see the evolution of her style from a teen prodigy to a global icon.