Melissa Wood-Tepperberg Makes Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Debut

Wood-Tepperberg is making her SI Swimsuit debut this year after working with photographer Yu Tsai on a photo shoot in Dominica.

The 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue features a number of new faces including renowned health and wellness coach Melissa Wood-Tepperberg.

Wood-Tepperberg is making her SI Swimsuit debut this year after working with photographer Yu Tsai on a photoshoot in Dominica. The 40-year-old fitness leader can now add the credential of SI Swimsuit model to her already stacked résumé, as she becomes one of the 2023 issue’s rookies.

“It feels so beyond incredible to be a Sports Illustrated rookie,” Wood-Tepperberg, a mother of two, said. “I can’t fully believe it, but then I can believe it because I’m here and I’m doing it, and it just feels phenomenal.”

Check out Melissa Wood-Tepperberg’s entire SI Swimsuit photoshoot.

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg poses for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in Dominica :: Sports Illustrated/Yu Tsai

Wood-Tepperberg, a native of Syracuse, started out as a model and actress before pivoting to focus on a career built around health and wellness. She became a yoga and Pilates instructor and founded Melissa Wood Health, a program designed to help make mindful health and wellness “accessible and attainable for all.”

In doing so, Wood-Tepperberg amassed more than one million Instagram followers and has been featured in publications like Vogue, Forbes, Goop and now SI Swimsuit.

“Turning 40 and being able to live out one of my greatest desires, I want anyone out there to know that you can do anything—you really can—that you set your mind and your energy and your focus and your intention toward,” she said. “You can make it become a living, breathing reality.”

Check out full coverage of the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.