About
Genevieve Morton (born July 9, 1986) is a South-African model whose sun-splashed images have appeared in six consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues (2010-2015), taking her from Fiji’s coral reefs to the snowy peaks of Switzerland. In 2012 readers of FHM voted her “Sexiest Woman in the World,” and Sports Illustrated later placed her on its list of the “Top 50 Swimsuit Models of All Time” (2014).
Now in her late thirties, Morton balances shooting campaigns for clients such as Maserati (she fronted the brand’s 2015 ads) with running Morton Media Management, a creative-services agency she launched in 2023 to help photographers and fellow models build their brands. She remains signed to IMG Models in New York and Los Angeles and continues to split her calendar between commercial work, entrepreneurship and charity initiatives that focus on women’s empowerment and autism awareness.
Her face has also graced multiple magazine covers—including GQ South Africa in 2011 and 2014—and she became a fan favourite in Esquire’s “Me in My Place” photo series. Editors praise her easygoing attitude and the way she lights up a frame without elaborate styling.
Before Fame
Morton grew up in the mining town of Benoni before her family relocated to the seaside village of Scottburgh when she was twelve, a move that nurtured her love of the outdoors and adventure sports. At seventeen she was already posing for local photographers, and in 2008 she landed her first professional spread for South African Sports Illustrated. Determined to push further, she moved to Cape Town, built a stronger portfolio, and headed to New York in 2009 after impressing scouts from IMG. Barely a year later she debuted in the 2010 global Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue—making history as the first South African model featured in the flagship edition and setting the stage for an international career.
Trivia
- Big-screen cameo: She appears as a White House guest in the cult disaster comedy Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015).
- Charity runner: Morton completed a half-marathon while raising money for Autism Speaks, showing determination off-camera as well.
- Sports super-fan: Life in Manhattan turned her into an enthusiastic New York Knicks and Rangers supporter; game-night selfies are a staple on her socials.
- Adventure workouts: She credits CrossFit circuits, cryotherapy and alpine hikes for keeping her camera-ready year-round.
- Cat companion: Her ginger tabby Horatio travels on a leash and often sneaks into behind-the-scenes videos—Morton calls him her “four-pawed publicist.”
- Prank memory: As a teenager she once “kidnapped” a concrete dodo statue outside the restaurant where she waitressed, mailing a playful ransom note that ended up in the local newspaper
Family Life
Morton keeps relatives out of the limelight, yet interviews reveal a close-knit household. Her father, an electrician with a passion for kite-building, shared countless weekend braais with her and even joined in homemade kite competitions. She is especially close to her older sister, who read bedtime stories and later shared apartments with her during the lean early-career years. The family’s resilience was tested when Morton’s mother passed away after a long illness just after Genevieve turned eighteen—an experience that fuels her commitment to health-related charities. Today she divides time between Los Angeles and Cape Town, FaceTiming family between shoots while Horatio the cat keeps her father company back in Benoni.
Associated With
Years in the Sports Illustrated orbit placed Morton alongside modelling icons such as Kate Upton, Irina Shayk, Chrissy Teigen and Rose Bertram, while photographers Walter Chin and Yu Tsai captured many of her most celebrated images. She posed with comedy trio The Lonely Island for a playful 2011 GQ feature and appeared in Gavin DeGraw’s 2012 “Sweeter” music video. Coming from Benoni also links her to Oscar-winner Charlize Theron—a hometown success story she often cites as inspiration. Through Morton Media Management she now mentors emerging creatives, helping the next generation forge global connections just as she once did.