2009 SI Swimsuit Issue

As for the veterans, I found both Tori and Brooklyn a bit disappointing.

I expected a bit more from Bar and Irina as well, I preferred their 2008 shoots to their 2009 shoot.

The rest didn't really stand out positively or negatively.

Overall I do think it's a bit of a disappointing. I'm not sure which, if any shots we'll remember from this issue in five years time...

A couple Bar GIFs, free to use. They're formatted to 150x150 so they center properly and don't lose their aspect ratio.

Kim Cloutier, 21, is a native of Montreal, Quebec. She came into modeling naturally: Her father is a photographer and she and her brother would regularly pose for his clients who needed child models. She got serious about the business at age 15 when she signed with Next modeling as a way to help pay for college. This is Kim's first appearance in the Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico

What's up with all of the models going with the "peeling off bottom" pose thingy...

Brooklyn Decker, 21, was born in Middletown, Ohio, and raised in Charlotte, N.C. She was discovered at age 16 in a mall and began her career as the face of Mauri Simone. She has been featured in Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, FHM and Glamour as well as campaigns for Gap, Intimissimi and Victoria's Secret and in music videos for Jimmy Buffett and 3 Doors Down. This is Brooklyn's fourth Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Canouan Island, The Grenadines

Cintia Dicker, 22, was born in Campo Bom, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, but is of German descent. She has appeared in campaigns for Ann Taylor, Yves Saint Laurent and the H.I.P. cosmetics line for L'Oreal Paris. She has been a cover model for Elle, Madame Figaro and Brazilian Vogue/Teen Vogue magazines. This is Cintia's first appearance in the Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Canary Islands, Spain

What's up with all of the models going with the "peeling off bottom" pose thingy...

Half the models are doing the beads-over-their-breasts thing too. SI is really running out of ideas.

Lucia Dvorska, 20, grew up in a village in western Slovakia, called Zohor. Despite appearing in a television commercial as a child, she didn\'t start modeling until age 16. She has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, L\'Officiel, Madam Figaro and Harper\'s Bazaar. Lucia splits her time between New York, Slovakia and Brazil. This is her first appearance in the Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Cappadocia, Turkey

She's not my fav model for SI, but so far I love her shoot. The coloring, textures, suits, lighting, the gritty feeling. Its kinda sexy

Esti Ginzburg, 18, is a native of Tel Aviv, Israel. She began her modeling career at age 8 with a milk ad. By 14, she had signed with Elite Models and has gone on to model for Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, FCUK, Pull & Bear and Castro. This is Esti's first appearance in the SI Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Naples, Italy

My favorites

Irina- she's been my fave ever since she started doing the magazine. SI needs to stick with her, she could be a star

Esti- such a beautiful face

Lucia- love her eyes and skin tone

Tori- she's so beautiful, she wins me over every year

Jessica- not a huge fan of her teeth but I think in her case, they have helped set her apart from every other blonde. also great lips

Jessica Gomes, 23, fell into modeling at age 13 after appearing on Bush Patrol, a television show in her native Australia. That led to her modeling contract and a career that has landed her on the pages of Vogue, Teen Vogue, Glamour and the Victoria's Secret catalogue as well as campaigns for Adidas, Gap, Motorola and DKNY. Hailing from Perth, this is Jessica's second appearance in the Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

As a girl Melissa Haro, 21, competed in beauty pageants around her San Jose, Calif., home before entering the Elite Model Look competition in Africa at age 15. Following high school graduation, Melissa began working full-time as a model and was featured in campaigns for Guess, Anti-Flirt and Eres. An animal lover, she hopes to open a chain of affordable veterinary hospitals one day. This is Melissa's second Swimsuit appearance.

Location: Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Jessica Hart, 22, was born in Sydney, but raised in Melbourne, Australia. Her aunt entered her in a modeling competition at 14 and she was in instant demand. By 16, Jessica was pursuing her career full time. She has lived and worked in Japan, Paris, London and New York. She has posed for department stores and catalogues as well as Vogue, H&M and Guess. This is Jessica's first Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Julie Henderson, 22, was born in Houston, Texas. There, she attended her first modeling school at age 8. After graduating from high school, she moved first to France, and later to New York to pursue modeling full time. She has appeared in such magazines as Elle Girl and Teen Vogue. This is Julie's third appearance in the Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Cappadocia, Turkey

Esti Ginzburg, 18, is a native of Tel Aviv, Israel. She began her modeling career at age 8 with a milk ad. By 14, she had signed with Elite Models and has gone on to model for Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, FCUK, Pull & Bear and Castro. This is Esti's first appearance in the SI Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Naples, Italy

she is very cute more than bar

Damaris Lewis, 18, is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. She is a classically trained dancer and attended the LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. She was discovered by a modeling agent at a benefit dinner. Within months, Damaris was working for clients such as V, French Vogue, Benetton, MAC and Yves St. Lauren. She is the European face of YSL Complexion Makeup. This is Damaris' first Swimsuit appearance.

Location: Cappadocia, Turkey

I love this bikini on her, and I think it's one of the most beautiful from all of the suits on the models.

I don't like her pulling the bottoms down but she looks amazing so I can live with it

I LOVE that they didn't try to 'shop her freckles out, they are so beyond sexy on her!

Jarah Mariano, 25, was born in Kauai, Hawaii, and raised in Mission Viejo, Calif. At age 15, she was stopped by a scout in Santa Monica and hasn't stopped modeling. After high school, Jarah moved to NYC where she attended Pace University, earning her degree while modeling for Victoria's Secret, MAC, Armani Exchange, Sephora, Roxy Quiksilver, Rock and Republic and Abercrombie & Fitch. Jarah is making her second Swimsuit appearance.

Location: Canouan Island, The Grenadines

Ariel Meredith, 24, was discovered at age 14, but did not pursue modeling full time until she had completed her education. A Shreveport, LA., native, Ariel is currently featured in a Dolce and Gabana campaign, has posed for V Magazine, French Magazine, H&M and Gap. This is Ariel's first appearance in the Swimsuit Issue.

Location: Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico

So I downloaded all (and I mean all) the pics using GetRight last night, and boy was I disappointed when scrolling through them in IrfanView when I reached the end of the directory and nothing popped out for me.

I agree with a lot of what Memento Mori said. I don't follow fashion or modelling so my impression of these models are almost completely based on how they look in the magazine. I also heavily base my impression on facial features, which is why some models, like Cintia Dicker or Marisa Miller, will never do it for me. Then again, the issue is big enough that I can always skip them, so I base my evaluation on the issue's highlights, not my average assessment of the pics. Last year my highlights were Brooklyn and Jessica Gomes, and both have become quite more forgettable this year.

Also, I totally agree that you can't really see a model's personality through her portfolio. But she can certainly sell an expression, and none of the models are doing that except Daniella. I think it's a fashion photography problem though: read this article about the Heeb Refaeli cover and you'll see that awesome cover was the brainchild of a non-fashion mind.

BTW, for some bizarre reason SI uploaded a number of pics without posting them. Most of them aren't really interesting but they did slash off 6 decent Brooklyn body-painting shots for some reason. I think these are it, though I'm not sure... ...