Guiding Them to Exciting Model Search Events, Venues and Exotic Locations Worldwide
Angnel Bhathal
Miss Swimsuit USA 2025
Dr. Angel Bhathal is a trailblazer, the first Canadian and first woman with her doctorate to become Miss Swimsuit USA International. She hopes to inspire women and girls to continue to break glass ceilings and not be afraid to think outside of the box. Angel grew up in the coldest city in Canada, Winnipeg, completed her Doctor of Pharmacy in Edmonton, at the University of Alberta, and now currently works and lives in Toronto, Canada. Angel has served to advance patient care in hospitals, pharmacies, and for non-profits.
Through Swimsuit USA International, Angel has traveled and escaped the cold Canadian winters and expanded her modeling experiences working with swimwear brands from around the world. Angel cherishes her experiences at Swimsuit USA International as it prepared her for her debut as a model walking in "Miami Swim Week" in May 2024.
In 2023, Angel was recognized as Canada's Top 3 Mentors at the Women's Empowerment Awards. She enjoys mentoring women and girls in pharmacy, their careers, and in pageants. Angel is also an advocate for Plan International, where she has planned and hosted events in support of raising funds and awareness for gender equity and literacy internationally!
In Angel’s spare time, she can be found going for walks by the waterfront, gratitude journaling, and traveling the world. Angel speaks English, French, Punjabi, Japanese, and has traveled to 47 countries.
"Swimsuit USA International is more than a model search or a pageant, it is a family. There is a reason why so many contestants, judges, photographers, sponsors, staff, and VIPs come back to this system every year. It is because Swimsuit USA International fosters a supportive and invaluable community. Over the last three years, I have seen myself and the contestants by my side grow. I have established lifelong friendships from this network of incredible people. I have utter admiration for the former SUSA queens and contestants I have met, this sisterhood of celebrating each other is what makes SUSA so special. Thank you Kathy for every opportunity you provide all of us - we love you!”
- Angel Bhathal
Keslyn Hart
Miss Swimsuit USA 2024
Keslyn Hart is a small town girl from Palatka, Florida. She has been modeling for 4 years now and Swimsuit USA International is where it all began! Since then, she has modeled for countless brands, promotions, and photographers. Keslyn has also walked in both Miami Swim Week and NY Swim Week. She’s also been on two reality TV shows!
Keslyn graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Business Administration. Since graduating she has started working at a commercial construction company in Florida. She has also recently passed her general contractors exam and looks forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the industry.
3 years ago, Keslyn started her own jewelry company. “For The Girls Jewelry” is waterproof jewelry subscription service that donates a percentage of their proceeds to different women’s charities each month, the charities include The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, I A.M. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. (helps foster confidence in young girls), and RAINN (fights against sexual assault and provides support to survivors). Keslyn started this business because she believes that “There is nothing better than a community of women supporting one another”.
When Keslyn isn’t working or working out, she loves traveling, yoga, outdoor hiking, water sports, and she’s a firm believer that you should “ALWAYS go chasing waterfalls”!
"Being crowned Miss Swimsuit USA International has been four years in the making and I am so overwhelmed with emotion. I love this organization so much and it’s the people inside of it that make it so special. I have truly formed life long friendships and have had so many cool experiences and opportunities that have come from this competition. It was such an honor to wear Palatka, FL across my heart.
Swimsuit USA International is so much more than a pageant. It’s women building their confidence together. It’s women clapping for each other. It’s women pushing themselves and each other out of their comfort zones to grow together. It’s women celebrating what it means to be a woman. It’s SO MUCH MORE than a beauty pageant! Every single woman on that stage deserves the crown. It was an honor to share this experience with you and I will wear it for all of us. This crown is ours!"
- Keslyn Hart
Kianna Stephens
Miss Swimsuit USA 2023
Kianna Stephens from Cornwall, UK is 23 years old and a professional Dancer & Model. I began dancing when I was 3 years old at my primary school in England all the way through until I was awarded a full scholarship to study at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet school in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. I lived away from home and studied 6 days a week from the age of 13 through graduating into my first professional dance contract in 2018. My dancing career has consisted of working at sea on cruise ships where I performed all around the world, performing in productions for the Vegas Show Girls in Germany and also the Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Alongside my dancing career, I began modeling dance wear for various companies and started to enjoy modeling as much as dancing. My modelling career highlights include walking for the Boux Avenue Fashion Show, GHD Hair shows, Billboards for Pineapple Dance Studios clothing, Commercial for Rolls Royce and a campaign for Next Official.
Winning Miss Swimsuit USA International has been my biggest achievement so far and I couldn’t be happier. I have made many new connections and friendships from the experiences. With competing, I’ve gained confidence and belief within myself and my capabilities. Other achievements have been winning Miss Swimsuit UK in 2019, where I won my place to compete in the World Finals and experience Swimsuit USA International. Since winning, I’ve been inspired to start my own modeling agency and social media management business with my best friend (SA Media Management). My new business means I get to help other people find happiness and have similar experiences. I hope I get the opportunity to make many new connections across the globe, travel and experience new destinations as Miss Swimsuit USA this year.
Lara Mitton Zafir
Miss Swimsuit USA 2020-2022
Lara Mitton Zafir – Miss Swimsuit USA International Winner 2020-2022
Lara is a country girl from a small, beach town in the Whitsundays, Australia. As she grew up on the doorstep to the Great Barrier Reef, she has been living in bikinis as long as she can remember.
Lara says “I think the secret to rocking a bikini is feeling good in one!”
Her 1st time on stage, Lara entered a local pageant to grow confidence and learn to overcome stagefright. She ended up having a total blast and won the heat! That ignited a passion for the sparkle and the glamour. After years of hard work, she won a national title, leading her to the Swimsuit USA World Finals. Lara placed in Top 10 the 1st year she competed in Swimsuit USA. The goal didn’t stop there. Once she had a taste for the big leagues, Lara was determined to make it to the top.
Lara and her husband, Australian UFC fighter, own a Mixed Martial Arts Gym and Lara has also competed in the ring a few times. It gives me an “all or nothing” attitude. “You win or you learn, then you work on what you’ve learned and try again”. It was that thinking that drove Lara to compete again at Swimsuit USA, where she took home the title of Miss Swimsuit USA International 2020!
Sierra Nowak
Miss Swimsuit USA 2019
Sierra Nowak is an award-winning actress, international model, and philanthropist. She obtained her Bachelor of Science from The University of Southern California, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. Currently Sierra works both in front of and behind the camera, she finds joy in producing as it allows her to create opportunities and give a voice to women in film. She also founded Sanctuary Candle Co. a small, woman-owned, sustainable candle business. She is passionate about mental health awareness and inspiring young women to pursue entrepreneurship. She attributes her interest in sustainability and her global mindset to her travels. To date, Sierra has lived in 4 different countries and traveled to over 18. Traveling is her way of connecting to humanity.
You can see Sierra in season 5 of the hit television show Lucifer, and the film Kidnapped to the Island on Lifetime. Most recently, she has been internationally recognized as an actress with her short film, NARC, directed by Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd, which she both starred in and produced. This project is currently being developed into a feature length film. Sierra also continues to work in theater, and was humbled to portray the character Paige, in the new stage play Misunderstood, executive produced by Morris Chestnut. Sierra’s goal is to tell compelling stories that facilitate tangible change for women using meaningful and sometimes even humorous filmmaking. A quote she lives by is, “Be expectant of what God is going to call you into.”
To keep up with Sierra, follow her on Instagram and Twitter @SierraNowak
Watch Beyond the Sash
Follow the life of Kathy Wheatley, an organizer of bikini/model searches. Over the course of a year, Kathy and other event coordinators will conduct multiple regional bikini/model searches throughout the US and across multiple countries. The goal of these contests is to discover the 75 best contestants to compete in the world finals in Mexico for the title of Miss Swimsuit USA International.
Headquarters
in Houston, Texas
The Swimsuit USA International Model Search is one of the largest and fastest-growing model searches known worldwide. Hundreds of young ladies participate in preliminary competitions to advance to the World Finals.
Swimsuit USA International is geared to provide women with opportunities to further enhance their modeling careers. Contestants learn modeling fundamentals, build their portfolios, live a healthy lifestyle and build a professional network with various industry leaders such as movie and television producers, casting directors, magazine editors and top photographers from around the globe.
Contestants build long-lasting friendships and memories that last a lifetime!
Experienced Professionals
Swimsuit USA International, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a worldwide organization with many experienced professionals who pride themselves on providing industry-leading promotional events.
Born from a marriage of industry knowledge and experience, Swimsuit USA International is excited to achieve its greatness through the hard work and leadership of Kathy Wheatley and her experienced staff.
