Bethenny Frankel Joins SI Swimsuit 2026 in Loreto: 9 Women, One Strategic Destination Shoot

In an era when glossy issues are built months before readers ever see a cover, bethenny frankel has been confirmed as one of nine women photographed in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, for the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue. The shoot took place in December 2025, a timetable that underscores how early the annual May release is shaped. Beyond the celebrity pull, the decision to stage a major set in Loreto highlights how location, brand partners, and a carefully balanced cast are becoming part of the product itself.

Why Loreto, Baja California Sur matters for the 2026 rollout

The SI Swimsuit team traveled to Loreto to photograph nine women for the 2026 issue, describing the destination as serene and low-key, with an atmosphere that can feel virtually untouched. The location sits on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and is portrayed as a setting where boating, surfing, and diving are common, with marine wildlife, pristine landscapes, and a laid-back coastal charm. Those descriptors are not incidental: for a swimsuit edition, the environment functions as both backdrop and narrative, giving the images a recognizable sense of place.

From a production standpoint, the timing is equally telling. The shoot happened in December 2025, positioned as an escape from winter chill and part of a months-long behind-the-scenes process that feeds into the annual issue that hits newsstands each May. That long lead time suggests a carefully sequenced marketing arc—teasing images, introducing the cast, and building anticipation—rather than a single publication moment.

Bethenny Frankel and the cast mix: two rookies, seven familiar faces

The Loreto lineup blends “two rookies and seven familiar faces, ” a cast structure that signals continuity while still creating room for novelty. The women photographed in Loreto were Haley Baylee, Lauren Chan, Jocelyn Corona, Olivia Dunne, bethenny frankel, Ilona Maher, Hunter McGrady, Brooks Nader, and Molly Sims. Even without further detail on individual roles, the framing suggests that familiarity is part of the editorial promise—returning names offer a dependable through-line—while the rookies provide an entry point for fresh storytelling and audience discovery.

In that context, bethenny frankel is not just another name on the call sheet; her inclusion becomes a signal about the breadth of the 2026 cast. The Loreto reveal positions her within a group presented as “incredible women, ” and the editorial emphasis on a curated mix implies intentionality in how the issue will be perceived when it reaches newsstands in May.

Behind the lens: James Macari, Kérastase, and a sponsor-enabled set

Three operational details in the Loreto production point to how modern magazine shoots are assembled: photographer, brand partner, and logistical enabler. The images in Loreto were captured by photographer James Macari, with Kérastase named the official haircare partner of 2026. The trip itself was described as being made possible by Alaska Airlines. Each element speaks to the mechanics of a large-scale shoot: creative leadership (Macari), beauty integration (Kérastase), and travel facilitation (Alaska Airlines).

These partnerships are not presented as side notes; they are built into the official description of the set, which indicates how brand alignment and production resources can shape where a shoot happens and how it is executed. For the issue, the publication is also offering a “sneak peek” of the first official image from each model photographed in Loreto before the magazine arrives on newsstands in May—an approach that extends the life of the project from a single shoot into a staged release cycle.

From an editorial standpoint, the Loreto choice is designed to translate a physical environment into a visual identity: tranquil vibes, lush biodiversity, and West Coast-of-Mexico scenery. That framing suggests the images aim for atmosphere as much as fashion—an attempt to make the destination inseparable from the final product.

Regional and global ripples: when a magazine set becomes a destination narrative

Even in a short description, Loreto is positioned as more than a location tag. It is portrayed as a climate-friendly destination for water activities and as a place known for marine wildlife and pristine landscapes. When a globally distributed issue attaches itself to that kind of narrative, the destination becomes part of the cultural conversation around the release—especially when the cast reveal is tied directly to the place where the photos were made.

The broader implication is that destination-based shoots can operate like soft spotlights on lesser-hyped locales, emphasizing a “laid-back coastal charm” rather than a familiar, overexposed setting. That editorial framing also shapes how audiences interpret the images: not simply as studio-like fashion output, but as an experience staged in a specific environment.

For 2026, the Loreto set is being introduced early as a key ingredient in what the publication says is “shaping up to be better than ever before, ” tying together the cast, the photographer, the partners, and the destination. Whether viewers arrive for the scenery, the lineup, or the behind-the-scenes momentum, bethenny frankel now sits inside a production built to unfold in chapters on the way to May newsstands—raising the question of which element will ultimately define the issue: the faces, the place, or the strategy connecting both.