The search for Sports Illustrated’s new swimwear model has reached its final stage and twelve models have been selected from around the country for the finals of the Sports Illustrated New Model Search competition, proudly brought to you by Old Mutual Properties. This is where modelling careers get launched and this year’s finalists will be revealed in the April issue of Sports Illustrated, on sale from March 19, or on the Sports Illustrated website www.simag.co.za. Swimwear fans and pretty much any hot-blooded male now have the opportunity to vote for who they think should have the honour of appearing in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimwear issue later this year. The finalists are: Aileen Aylward and Nicole Fischer from Durban, Lauren Thomas, Palesa Vedala, Elbe Van der Merwe, Donnet Dumas and Gabriella Davids from Cape Town, Margaret Kellerman and Cheri Alphen from Pretoria, Catherine Reiter and Cindy Comley from Johannesburg, and Laetitia Kloppers from Nelspruit. The finalists will take part in a fashion show extravaganza to be held at The Wave House at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Durban on 7 April 2007 at 6pm where the winner will be announced. Entrance is free so come along and see the models in their moment of glory. The winning model will win a once in a lifetime, all expenses paid trip to Pangkor Laut Resort in Malaysia for the annual Sports Illustrated Swimwear model shoot, and will appear in the eagerly anticipated tenth anniversary Sports Illustrated Swimwear edition bought to you by Nashua, which goes on sale on 15 October. Don’t delay, get your April issue of Sports Illustrated on sale from March 19 and cast your vote for who you want to see grace the pages of Sports Illustrated’s 10th Swimwear issue. And don’t forget to join the models at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Durban on April 7. Head to www.simag.co.za to check out pictures from the semi-finals.