News & Events | Swimsuit USA International Model Search

Swimsuit USA 2022 World Finals Live Streams

Watch the 2022 World Finals live streams here: https://swimsuitusa.net/2022-world-finals-live-streams/

Swimsuit USA 2019 World Finals

Winner - Lara Zafir - North Queensland, Australia

1^st runner-up Sarah Knop - Houston, Texas

2^nd runner-up - Liz Kirkness - Sydney, Australia

3^rd runner-up - Kianna Stephens - Cornwell, United Kingdom

4^th runner-up - Charlotte Cushing - Gold Coast, Australia

Special Award Winners:

Miss Photogenic - Kianna Stephens - United Kingdom

Miss Congeniality - Chanelle Lee Preradovich – Canada

Director's Picks - Kamilla Mihalik & Kalista Itakura

Lara Mitton Zafir - Miss Swimsuit USA International Winner 2020-2021

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 1^st 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!

The 2019 Swimsuit USA World Finals was held at Sandos - Playacar, Riviera Maya, Mexico. Sandos is a unique, eco-friendly resort. The All-Nature Experience is to emphasize the nature-related experience that Playa Del Carmen has to offer. The week was filled with 74 beautiful models from around the world. The contestants spent time exploring the eco-friendly resort, meeting animals and shooting with 8 professional photographers on the lush property. Sandos features one of the best shows in town.

Swimsuit USA worked closely with Sandos staff to create the best show Swimsuit USA has performed in 10 years. The opening number featured contestants dancing to, “On the Floor” by Jennifer Lopez! The featured dancers from Sandos participated in the Finals Saturday night with fireworks ending the show. There were over 900 people watching! The preliminary competition was held Friday morning. Contestants enjoyed time with their family and friends exploring 5^th street in Playa, going to Tequila Barrel and Coco Bongo.

Swimsuit USA 2018 World Finals

Winner - Sierra Nowak - Los Angeles, California

1^st runner-up - Casey Boonstra - Sydney, Australia

2^nd runner-up - Liz Kirkness - New South Wales, Australia

3^rd runner-up - Lara Mitton Zafir - North Queensland, Australia

4^th runner-up - Casey Costelleo - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Special Award Winners:

Miss Photogenic - Cynthia Douglas, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Miss Congeniality - Jordan Humphries, Northern Ireland

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

The 2018 Swimsuit USA World Final was held at Hard Rock Hotel - Riviera Maya, Mexico. The Hard Rock features 2 resorts. Heaven - Adults and Hacienda - Family. The contestants enjoyed an exciting week. They spent the day at Dolphin Discovery - Puerto Aventuras swimming with Dolphins, Manatees and Sea Lions. Dolphin Discovery is one of the very few places in the world you can swim with Manatees. They also tested their skills on the zip line and trying new experiences at Westward Skate Park.

Ken Armstrong, our main sponsor hosted all the contestants on a Catamaran Snorkeling trip along with lunch in beautiful Isla Mujeres. The contestants enjoyed relay races on Friday during the “Survivor” Foam Pool Party. The pool was filled with foam and there was a dance off! The girls received beautiful photos from the Official Swimsuit USA photographers to keep for their portfolio’s. The show was performed to “International Love” by Pitbull and Chris Brown. The contestants rocked the stage! They also enjoyed the Celebration Party hosted by the Hard Rock Saturday night after the Finals competition.

Swimsuit USA 2014 World Finals

Congratulations to our 2014 SUSA Int'l Finals Winners!
Miss Swimsuit USA International 2014 is Adeline Mocke, representing Cape Town, South Africa! 1st runner up was Elise Duncan of Surfer’s Paradise, Australia; 2nd runner up was Katlin Arias of Cartagena, Colombia; 3rd runner up was Lucy Miller of Barcelona, Spain; 4th runners up were Lindsey Bonin representing Maya Lagoon, Houston, TX and Rachel Spence of Phoenix, AZ.

HOUSTON, TEXAS (Monday, November 24, 2014)
Swimsuit USA International, the world’s leading and fastest growing model search organization held its 2014 Swimsuit USA International Finals at the luxurious, all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on November 11 - 17, 2014. 75 beautiful women from around the world flocked to Mexico to vie for the coveted title and Adeline Mocke representing Cape Town, South Africa took home the crown.

The contestants enjoyed a week of festivities filled with unforgettable experiences with nature, fun and memorable excursions such as swimming with the dolphins, sea lions and manatees at Dolphin Discovery, snorkeling in exotic locations with Cancun Adventures, a spectacular night out in Playa del Carmen at COCO BONGO and Tequila Barrel! SALT TEQUILA hosted the official Pool Party Friday afternoon where the guest enjoyed samples of the new exciting flavored tequila that has just been released. Contestants were seen around town doing professional photo shoots in beautiful Riviera Maya! All of the 2014 Swimsuit USA International Finalists will be featured in the 25 month Official Swimsuit USA International Calendar.

Visit the official Swimsuit USA Facebook page to check out all the photos from the finals and more. Apple has approved our app and it can be downloaded in the App Store. View the footage from our contestants from around the world and keep updated on all Swimsuit USA events. The finals were fun but there is a lot more coming from Swimsuit USA.

During the week of exciting excursions and breath-taking photo sessions, contestant competed in two days of competition; Friday, November 14 at 11:00am was the “Official Swimsuit Competition” poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. The exhilaration and excitement culminated on Saturday, November 16 at 8:00 PM where the International Finalists competed, the Top 24 Finalists where announced and the crowning of the 2015 Miss Swimsuit USA International.

Miss Congeniality went to Laura Alicia Summers of London, England. Miss Photogenic and Swimsuit Winner went to Payton Adkins representing Swimsuit Illustrated. ➤ 2014 Finals Photo Gallery