‘Sports Illustrated’ Cover Girl Hannah Davis is Ready for Caitlyn Jenner’s Versace Campaign
Yahoo Style: Did you surf much growing up?
Hannah Davis: I grew up in the Virgin Islands, in Saint Thomas, so I did all kinds of water sports—wakeboarding, skim-boarding, surfing, snorkeling, I literally grew up on the water so you name it and I’ve tried it. I hated wearing these teeny little bikinis because when you are doing watersports they just fly right off. And I was very much a tomboy so I needed to wear, you know, rashguard tops with little bikini bottoms.
YS: You were also an ace at tennis, by all accounts. What was your style of game and how good were you?
HD: I grew up in the age of Serena and Venus so I played an aggressive, double-handed-backhand game. And I was number 1 in the Caribbean as a junior and I played all the big USTA tournaments in the summer but I quit when I was 17. I signed with IMG when I was 14 and I had a contract with them so I was just trying to do too much. I would go to Fashion Week and then straight to a tournament. And I am such a perfectionist, especially when it comes to athletics, so if I wasn’t well prepared for a tournament I wouldn’t want to go. I felt like I was bowing out too often so I gave it up.
YS: God, IMG must have loved it—she can play and she can model!
HD: Exactly, that’s originally how it was pitched to me. I had no intention of modeling but I thought, Okay I can maybe get some free rackets or sponsorship or something out of this. They were like, ‘We think you can get more than free rackets.’ Later on a family friend brought me to New York to meet with agencies and I signed with IMG at 14. I was 5’ 6” or something at the time so I was super lanky and had these size 10 and half feet and they were like, ‘Yeah, you’re like a puppy, I think you are going to grow.’ I really wasn’t motivated by modeling in the slightest so I told them straight up, This is secondary to what I am doing right now. I can’t believe I had the balls to say this to them because in hindsight I ask myself how I managed to speak to them like that. But they may have appreciated it in a way because at least it showed that I could be passionate about something and put a lot of effort into something I believed in.
YS: Can you remember your first job?
HD: My first job was walking for Ralph Lauren show in Fashion Week. I didn’t know how to wear heels so they put me in wedges. I wore baggy jeans and this like blousy top. No makeup, no hair, so I am sure the other girls hated me. I got there and they were like, Just leave her as she is.
Like I said, I didn’t know how to walk but they told me not to change anything, that it was very casual. So the next day I just walked like a little boy down the runway. I had no idea what I was doing and just following the girl in front of me. The next week I was doing a Blue Label campaign for them. Maybe it’s just hindsight, but when I look back at the photos, I looked 14 and like a deer in the headlights. I looked sad, and had my resting bitch face on.
YS: How has the Sports Illustrated cover changed things for you?
HD: Life has changed considerably because I think I am less stressed about trying to fit in in the fashion world. And I think that SI gives you a really good platform to not have to conform to what fashion wants you to be and gives you your own lane. People at companies accept you for who you are rather than trying to mould you into something else. So I feel less pressure in some ways, but it’s just been the biggest thing that has happened in my career. A lot more opportunities come your way and the best thing is to choose what you want to do and who you want to work with. Being a working model, you usually just take what’s being offered. You just say yes all the time, so right now it’s great that I get to pick and choose and work with labels and designers who sort of line up with who I am and where I am going.
YS: What about the DirecTV ads? That’s had a weird life of its own, with lots of social media campaigns around it and what have you.
HD: Tell me about it. I actually did DirecTV before I got the Sports Illustrated cover. Perfect timing, though. First time I was the genie and played this character but the new one is more about me just being me, I didn’t want to dress up in the costume, I just wanted to be myself. We shot in St. Thomas, actually, on a beach that I literally grew up on so it was a no-brainer.
YS: People must come up to you and recognize you all the time.
HD: All the time. We were just at the ESPYs, and I was being asked about the ads all night. I’m very proud to be in them, but it’s funny because people identify with you from one company.
YS: What was it like to be at the ESPYs when Caitlyn Jenner got up on stage?
HD: Her speech was amazing. I expected that, because Bruce used to go all around the country giving all these motivational speeches, so I figured it would have to be good. But it was just so moving and inspirational. I loved how she tied in sports to everything because she is obviously talking about being different, and bullying and the whole transgender community and all that stuff so it brought it all back home to this sports-mad audience. It was very informative and so inspirational.
YS: And she looked slamming in that Versace dress.
HD: Oh my god, didn’t she? I wouldn’t be surprised if she got the Versace campaign. That family is everywhere. Again, I expected her to look stunning like that because look at her family. Did you expect her to come out in some wonky looking dress? No, I don’t think so.
YS: Would you consider doing a reality TV show?
HD: Actually, I am shooting Project Runway Juniors.
YS: I didn’t know that. Talk to me a bit about that.
HD: It’s the exact same thing as Project Runway, so I essentially I am going to be doing what Heidi Klum does except it’s for a different age group. The kids are between 14-17. They are all up-and-coming designers, really talented kids I have been told, so I am excited to meet them. Christian Siriano is one of the judges and I don’t think I am allowed to say too much more. We start shooting Monday, as it happens.
YS: Has Hollywood come a-knocking?
HD: I don’t really want to do movies. I just did Vacation. I played Christie Brinkley in the car. But literally I came in for hair and makeup, did my scene and I was out in no time. I don’t have any lines, I just get hit by a bus, which I think is hilarious. I would do another cameo in something fun but I just don’t like the lifestyle of an actor. I live such a normal life and I am just not willing to part with it or compromise as far as that goes.
YS: You date one of the most famous men in the country, Derek Jeter, and are snapped when you go to Starbucks. That’s not that normal.
HD: I have a very normal life, you’d be very surprised. I don’t think even going to fashion events is normal. The whole world doesn’t represent me. That kind of stuff like the paparazzi following us happens every once in a while, but we have a very normal existence.
YS: So if you get married, you are not going on Real Housewives of New York?
HD: I would never want to go on Housewives. Besides, I don’t think they would want me. I am not fabulous enough.
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