Why Brooks Nader Is More Than a Sports Illustrated Model
Brooks Nader is an American model, TV personality, and entrepreneur best known for winning the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Swim Search and becoming a 2023 cover model. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she has since expanded from fashion modeling into reality television, dance competition, and lifestyle businesses.
Her breakout was no small feat: Nader won the Swim Search open casting call against roughly 10,000 applicants. By 2026, she has appeared in seven Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photo shoots, competed on Dancing with the Stars, and stars alongside her three sisters in Love Thy Nader.
At 29, Nader represents a modern kind of celebrity: one built through editorial modeling, social media, candid interviews, family-focused television, and consumer-brand partnerships. This guide covers her Louisiana roots, career milestones, businesses, screen credits, and the personal story behind the public image.
Simple brooks nader glossary:
Early Life, Background, and Education
Brooks Claire Nader was born on February 7, 1997, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She grew up in a lively southern household alongside three younger sisters: Mary Holland, Grace Ann and Sarah Jane. Her family holds deep roots in Louisiana sports culture; her grandfather, Sam Nader, served for decades as the assistant athletic director for football for the LSU Tigers, making the family household names around Baton Rouge. She is also of partial Lebanese heritage, which she has frequently celebrated throughout her public career.
Nader attended the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, graduating in the class of 2015. After high school, she enrolled at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she pursued a major in finance. While she demonstrated a strong head for business, her creative and fashion aspirations quickly took priority.
During an internship in New York City when she was 18 years old, Nader caught the eye of industry scouts. Recognizing the immense potential waiting in Manhattan's fashion circuit, she made the bold decision to leave Tulane after two years and relocate permanently to New York City to pursue modeling full-time.
The Rise of Brooks Nader: Modeling Career & Breakthroughs
Transitioning into professional modeling was far from effortless. Early on, agencies were skeptical of her commercial crossover appeal, occasionally discouraging her from pursuing mainstream swimwear campaigns. Refusing to take no for an answer, Nader took matters into her own hands in 2019 by submitting herself to the open casting call for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Swim Search.
Among more than 10,000 applicants worldwide, she stood out immediately to the judging panel, which included modeling icon Christie Brinkley. Brinkley mentored Nader during the process, passing along foundational industry wisdom: show up early, bring an unwavering positive attitude, and maintain genuine professionalism regardless of the setting—whether shooting on tropical sands or in sub-zero polar temperatures.
Nader won the 2019 Swim Search, earning her rookie spread in the 2020 issue. From there, her momentum was unstoppable. According to Brooks Nader, she steadily built her editorial portfolio, returning for the 2021 and 2022 issues before achieving the ultimate industry milestone in 2023: the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Shot in the Dominican Republic by James Macari, she shared the prestigious 2023 cover class with Martha Stewart, Megan Fox, and Kim Petras. In doing so, Nader became only the second Swim Search alumna in the brand's history to earn a cover spot, following Camille Kostek in 2019.
Her relationship with the franchise continued to expand. In 2024, she participated in the franchise's historic 60th Anniversary issue as one of 27 returning brand legends, cementing her position as an enduring swimwear icon through consecutive shoots leading into 2026.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Career Milestones
| Year | Milestone & Achievement | Location / Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Won the open Swim Search casting call | Selected from over 10,000 global applicants |
| 2020 | Official SI Swimsuit Rookie Feature | Debut editorial spread as a branded talent |
| 2021 | Returning Issue Feature Model | Expanded commercial portfolio |
| 2022 | Editorial Spread Feature | Established veteran status within the franchise |
| 2023 | Official Cover Model | Baywatch-inspired red shoot alongside Martha Stewart |
| 2024 | 60th Anniversary "Legends" Issue | Photographed among 27 iconic brand ambassadors |
| 2025–2026 | Veteran Feature Spreads | Continuous annual appearances reaching 7 total spreads |
Media Expansion, Television, and Business
Modern fashion careers rarely stay confined to print, and Nader has capitalized on her visibility across multiple entertainment sectors.
Brooks Nader on Television and Pop Culture
Before her major modeling breakthrough, Nader made a brief cameo in the 2018 action film Backtrace as Orderly Lisa. However, non-scripted television proved to be her natural screen medium. In autumn 2024, she joined the cast of ABC's Dancing with the Stars for Season 33. Paired with professional ballroom dancer Gleb Savchenko, Nader showcased athletic versatility across routines like the Tango, Salsa, and Cha-cha-cha—peaking with a single-routine score of 33 before finishing in 9th place.
Building on that momentum, Nader and her three sisters landed their own unscripted docuseries, Love Thy Nader. Premiering on Freeform in August 2025 and streaming across Hulu, the show chronicles the four sisters navigating modeling careers, post-divorce dating, and sibling cohabitation in New York City. The series quickly earned a renewal for Season 2. Adding scripted credits to her slate, Nader was also cast in a recurring role for FOX's modern Baywatch reboot—a fitting development given her red-swimsuit 2023 cover shoot.
Business Ventures and the Brooks Nader Brand
Rather than relying purely on external endorsement deals, Nader has directed her platform into equity-driven consumer enterprises. She founded Home by BN, an interior design and home accessories brand that translates southern warmth into modern urban living spaces. She also designed collaborative jewelry lines alongside Electric Picks, launched specialized apparel capsules with Hudson Jeans, and signed partnerships with leading global brands including Clarins, YSL, Samsung, and Celsius.
According to a detailed review of her financial standing on Brooks Nader Bio: Age, Taron Egerton Romance, SI Swimsuit Legend Status, Career, Net Worth in 2026, her diversified portfolio of modeling contracts, television production checks, and product licensing places her estimated net worth between $2 million and $4 million.
Personal Life, Relationships, and Candid Authenticity
Nader's personal life has frequently made headlines, partly due to her radical candor. At age 18, shortly after arriving in New York, she met media executive Billy Haire. The pair married in December 2019 when she was 22 and he was 33. The couple navigated four years of marriage before separating in 2024, with their divorce finalizing in 2025. Moving through a high-profile divorce tested her resilience, particularly when navigating cultural and religious expectations from her traditional southern background.
Following her divorce, Nader experienced single adulthood for the first time. Over subsequent months, she was linked to several public figures, including brief summer connections with Tom Brady in 2024, a turbulent romance with dance partner Gleb Savchenko, and lighthearted US Open speculation involving tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. By early 2026, she entered a steady relationship with Welsh actor Taron Egerton.
What separates Nader from many of her contemporaries is her refusal to craft an artificial public persona. In unscripted interviews with outlets like Us Weekly, she has spoken openly about:
- Aesthetic & Wellness Transparency: Frankly addressing GLP-1 (Ozempic) use in fashion rather than pretending drastic body changes stem purely from workout regimens.
- Reframing Awkward Moments: Turning a viral period stain incident at Wimbledon into an empowering, paid commercial campaign with Kotex.
- Sisterly Dynamic: Living in a close-knit, self-described "codependent" Manhattan hub where her sisters Mary Holland, Grace Ann, and Sarah Jane help screen her direct messages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brooks Nader
How did Brooks Nader break into the modeling industry?
Brooks Nader entered the mainstream modeling industry by winning the open Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Swim Search casting competition in 2019. Despite agency skepticism regarding her high-fashion fit, she bypassed traditional gatekeepers, outperforming roughly 10,000 contestants to secure an editorial spread and mentorship from Christie Brinkley.
Who is Brooks Nader dating in 2026?
As of 2026, Brooks Nader is in a relationship with Welsh actor Taron Egerton. Following her 2024 separation and 2025 divorce from media executive Billy Haire, she had brief public romances and flings before settling into her current relationship.
What is Brooks Nader's estimated net worth?
Brooks Nader's net worth is estimated between $2 million and $4 million. Her primary income sources include long-running editorial modeling contracts, appearances on Dancing with the Stars, executive compensation and star talent pay from her reality show Love Thy Nader, alongside equity from her brand Home by BN and fashion licensing deals.
Conclusion
Brooks Nader's journey from a Baton Rouge finance student to an internationally known cover model, entrepreneur, and reality television lead highlights the changing dynamics of modern celebrity. By balancing high-profile editorial work with sharp entrepreneurial sense and unapologetic personal authenticity, she has built a sustainable lifestyle brand that reaches well beyond the pages of fashion magazines.
Whether exploring creative culture in Manhattan or celebrating visual art across our regional communities, authentic self-expression remains the ultimate calling card. Brooks Nader's evolving career proves that blending southern charm with relentless self-determination creates an enduring blueprint for creative and commercial success.
