Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Hailey Clauson Coney Island Summer of Swim
New Yorkers usually head to the beach to cool off but it will be hot and steamy in Coney Island on Sunday. The boardwalk will host the first Summer of Swim Fan Festival featuring Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models including Hailey Clauson, Nina Agdal, Hannah Ferguson, Ashley Graham, Hannah Jeter, Samantha Hoopes and Chanel Iman. The beach babes will be signing autographs so don’t forget to bring your favorite Swimsuit issue.

“Summer of Swim will take our franchise to a completely new level and open up this exclusive world to all of our fans in entirely new ways,” said SI Swimsuit Editor MJ Day.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Hailey Clauson Coney Island Cyclone

Hailey Clauson’s dangerous curves

The Summer of Swim cover features none other than Hailey Clauson, the cover model for SI Swimsuit 2016. The California girl was right at home on the Coney Island boardwalk. She showed off her impressive free throw in a basketball carnival game. The petite girl even scarfed down a Nathan’s hot dog like a champ. Clauson says she won a hot dog eating contest when she was eight-year-old.

“It’s a special place especially when you know the history of Coney Island,” Clauson said in a behind-the-scenes video. “It’s very iconic and very raw and real. So it’s cool to shoot all around it. It’s old school. I love it.”

It doesn’t get much more old school than the Coney Island Cyclone, the historic wooden roller coaster opened in 1927. Clauson and Nina Agdal rode the rickety roller coaster in their bikinis, which provided a thrill for them and us courtesy of their Go Pro cams.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Summer of Swim Hailey Clauson mermaid Coney Island

The out-of-towner received a warm welcome from the locals. They crowned her Queen of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, which showcases mythological creatures inspired by local streets such as Mermaid and Neptune. The supermodel had leg up on the competition as her beautiful mermaid costume was clearly not homemade.

Summer of Swim photo gallery

The Summer of Swim Fan Festival will include interactive experiences, pop-up shops, selfie stations, games, beach volleyball and a sand castle competition. The free event is open to public and runs 12-5PM on Sunday 8/28. The festival will be followed by a concert at the Coney Island Amphitheater beginning at 7PM (tickets). Local rapper Action Bronson and friends will perform at the covered open-air venue billed as “the first of its kind in the Tri-State area.”