Here's how Instagram has changed the careers of Sports Illustrated swimsuit models
Even though the swimsuit edition only comes out once a year, it's still a career-changer for the models who appear in the highly anticipated issue.
But while models of the past simply appeared in the magazine and maybe signed some autographs, today they are expected to interact with fans on a whole new level thanks to social media.
Many models now have social media strategies that have gotten them thousands of new followers a day.
Six of this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition models weigh in on how Instagram has changed the modeling industry below:
1. Cover star Hannah Davis
Instagram Followers: 157,000
"When I came up, you didn't share as much and social media wasn't as important," Davis said on MSNBC Tuesday morning. "So now I think that pictures you post to Instagram and Twitter and all that is really important. People want to get to know the model now, and you're able to."
2. Model irina Shayk
Instagram Followers: 2.4 million
"I do post work stuff to Instagram, of course, because I have to," Shayk told Business Insider Tuesday at Sports Illustrated's fan festival "Swim City" in Herald Square. "I also post food stuff, because I love to eat, even though people think models don't eat. I love to post things that I do during the day, you have to show a little piece of your life."She added: "People think we sleep in high heels with makeup on, and our hair done, but that's not true so you have to send the right message that we're just regular girls."3. Model Jessica Gomes
Instagram Followers: 143,000
"I think social media really helps us to interact with our fans on a personal level, it's nice," Gomes told us at SI's fan event on Tuesday. "I see Instagram as my mood board. When I look at my Instagram I like everything to look pretty, I like everything to flow from an artistic point of view. But I love that I get to promote my work on there and get to reach out to my fans." "Sometimes I'll read the comments and reply to some of them if I feel like it's right to," added Gomes. "If the comments are positive, I'm really willing to reply back to that."But, says the eight-time SI model, "For me, social media is a business. I don't like to share my private life on social media I prefer to keep that private. But I'm happy to share my work, I love what I do. I'm a swimsuit model, so I'm happy to embrace that."This week in particular is good for gaining followers on social media, says Gomes."I feel like every time the magazine launch comes around, afterward I gain so many followers. I've gained ike 4,000 in one day, it's really crazy! We have so much exposure around the launch and so much PR around it."4. Model Kate Bock
Instagram Foll lowers: 77.7k
5. Model Hannah Ferguson
Instagram Followers: 72.1k
6. "Rookie" Model Kelly Rohrbach
Instagram Followers: 16.2k
"Modeling has 100% changed with the rise of social media," Rohrbach tells us. "Social media is a great way to take the girl off the page and make her a real person. I think it's an amazing tool and so many girls are so good at it. I kind of suck at it to be honest, but it can be a lot of fun.""I think I got like 5,000 more followers this week," adds the model-actress. "But I'm working with low numbers."