Natalie ‘Noel’ Mariduena, a longtime friend-turned-business associate of YouTube megastar David Dobrik, has been tapped to appear in the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
Mariduena, 24, shared the news on Instagram, where she counts 4.1 million followers, alongside a video of her friends and family reacting to the news. She will appear as a ‘rookie’ in the magazine’s 2021 edition, Yahoo reports, which is what the publication calls first-time models. According to Sports Illustrated, the shoot took place at the Hard Rock Hollywood, and all of the images will be released in July.
“Being at the forefront of industry change, Natalie beautifully blurs the line in a world that too often tells women that they have to pick a lane and stay in it,” Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor MJ Day said in a statement. “She has created her own success story through her entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, and relatable mentality.”
To this end, Mariduena serves as chief of staff for Dobrik, vends her own line of merch, and serves as head of brand for Dispo, a nascent social media startup founded by Dobrik that has just reportedly raised $20 million in venture funding. In the future, Noel says her dream is to launch a sustainable activewear line.
You can learn more about Mariduena in an introductory Sports Illustrated video exploring her myriad entrepreneurial endeavors below:
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