SI Swimsuit's Rookie of the Year is a 56 Year Old Rocket

Like most of you, I have no idea how or why the whole Sports Illustrated Swimsuit continues to exist. It was one thing back in the '90s when you'd subscribe to the print edition of SI just to get a free sweatshirt, a VHS of the NFL's most violent hits or the totally rad football phone:

Then, just in the depths of mid-winter depression between the end of the Super Bowl and the start of March Madness, you'd get this piece of softcore escapism in your mailbox. The most super of supermodels like Kathy Ireland, Christie Brinkley, or Tyra Banks in some impossibly lush, tropical location as a reminder that, as you trudged out into the bleak, Chekovian winter to scrape three inches of ice off your car, there is still beauty in this dismal world. 

Though how it still manages to survive as an institution where we not only have remote car starters, but a rectangle in our pockets that can bring up whatever form of digital sex appeal we want in an instant, any hour of the day or night, is utterly beyond me. Si Swimsuit serves no purpose whatsoever. Other than to occasionally introduce us to some new fresh face we hadn't seen before. And that they have. As Reags pointed out at this time last year:

And Daily Mail is pointing out now, with 2023 rookie Dr. Nina Cash:

As a retired university associate dean, from California's Long Beach, the realization of Nina's modeling dream has been a long time coming.

She has worked in education, training and workforce development for more than three decades, and holds a doctorate in educational leadership - focusing on higher education and adult learning.

The impressive finalist was on season three of TV Land's reality show She's Got The Look back in 2010.

Much like America's Next Top Model, the series sees 10 women who are 35 years old or older compete for a modeling contract. …

'I liked what the show was about, which is empowering women over 35 years old,' she told Press-Telegram.

'It's true that beauty does blossom with age… I was so nervous when [the producers asked me questions]. I thought I was a has-been.'

Now married with three daughters, the 56-year-old, who confidently sports her gray hair, is now in the final 12 for the SI Swim Search and is signed to NTA Model Management.

Empowering women over 35? Beauty blossoms with age? Confidently sporting gray hair? Check. Check. And checkmate. If this is what late 50s are supposed to look like, put me down for a couple of full shipping containers:

And just to make the point that it's not all about the sort of surface thing that appeals to the superficial man, let me remind you that "Dr." title isn't just one of those phony baloney things you get for writing a thesis and spending 100 grand on tuition. If someone yells "Is there a doctor here?" in an emergency, this is one MILF who can raise her hand with confidence:

As Pop Fisher tells Roy Hobbs when he first meets him, "People don't start playing baseball at your age, they retire." And by the end of his rookie season he's telling him, "Well you're better than any player I ever had. And you're the best God damn hitter I ever saw. Suit up." And this old, gray-haired manager is glad that Nina Cash has decided to suit up. She's the best 56-year-old there ever was in the SI Swimsuit game.

Now if you'll excuse me, this old Boomer needs to hit the gym.