About
Samantha Hoopes is an American model and entrepreneur celebrated for her sun-kissed Sports Illustrated Swimsuit spreads and bold brand campaigns. Born on February 10 1991 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, she broke onto the global scene as the breakout “rookie” of SI’s 50th-anniversary issue in 2014 and went on to appear every year through 2020. Her western-themed Guess and Levi’s ads, glossy Maxim cover, and cameo in the Adam Sandler comedy Sandy Wexler cemented her pop-culture footprint. A decade into her career, Hoopes still turns heads—most recently walking the Sports Illustrated runway at Miami Swim Week 2023 just months after her second maternity leave. Her portfolio pairs athletic confidence with an easygoing sense of humor, qualities that keep her Instagram audience of two-million-plus scrolling..
Before Fame
The youngest of five sisters, Hoopes grew up in a busy household outside Philadelphia. She was a self-described tomboy who loved field hockey until frequent bruises steered her toward modeling classes at Barbizon Chique in nearby Philadelphia. At Central Bucks East High School she juggled sports, school plays, and part-time catalog shoots before heading to Penn State University. Her first major was kinesiology—she once dreamed of teaching gym—but she soon pivoted to business so she could travel for castings without falling behind in lab work. In 2013 she packed a single suitcase, drove west to Los Angeles, and within months landed back-to-back shoots for Guess and Levi’s. That early momentum caught the eye of Sports Illustrated editors, launching her into the magazine’s coveted rookie slot the following year.
Trivia
- Body-paint debut: Hoopes posed in nothing but shimmering paint for SI’s landmark 2014 body-paint portfolio, a feature that still circulates on “best of” swimsuit lists.
- Hot-list acclaim: Maxim ranked her No. 18 on its Hot 100 that same year, calling her “the girl next door with a quarterback spiral.”
- Papal blessing: In 2019 she and fiancé Salvatore Palella traveled to Vatican City, where Pope Francis blessed their newborn son, George—an experience she later said filled her with “humbling gratitude.”
- Motherhood musings: Hoopes often writes candid reflections on postpartum life; a 2024 Sports Illustrated feature praised the “main-character energy” she brought to a Caribbean shoot while balancing two toddlers.
- Longevity in print: An April 2025 retrospective celebrated the ten-year anniversary of her Oregon coast photo session, proof that her appeal endures well beyond the typical swimwear cycle.
Family Life
Hoopes announced her engagement to Italian tech and mobility entrepreneur Salvatore Palella in July 2018 after a whirlwind trans-Atlantic romance. They welcomed son George William in August 2019 and daughter Kennedy in late 2022. The family splits time between Los Angeles, where Hoopes oversees creative projects, and Milan, where Palella’s business interests are headquartered. The model frequently shares playful kitchen-table moments, candid travel snaps, and behind-the-scenes footage of photo shoots—using her platform to spotlight the joyful chaos of parenting. Hoopes has said that pregnancy “reshaped my priorities and my strength,” crediting motherhood for renewed body confidence and deeper empathy.
Associated With
Industry veterans compare Hoopes’s trajectory to fellow SI icons Kate Upton and Nina Agdal, both of whom appeared in the magazine during her early years. She has been photographed by legends such as Walter Iooss Jr. and Josie Clough and appeared alongside NFL stars Colin Kaepernick and Vernon Davis in a Levi’s campaign. Guess founder Paul Marciano tapped her for western-inspired ads, positioning her beside future runway powerhouse Gigi Hadid. Within Penn State circles she is celebrated alongside alumni athletes and broadcasters, often returning to campus events to encourage students to “take chances and trust hard work.” Her ability to blend glamour with approachability continues to make her a favorite collaborator for brands seeking an energetic, down-to-earth voice.
