The 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue Features Tunde Oyeneyin in a Rookie Debut

Tunde Oyeneyin is making her rookie debut in the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue. The Peloton instructor earned her spot by winning the 2025 SI Swim Search, a competition The Clip Out community actively helped influence through their votes. The May issue drops in less than a month, and ahead of it, SI has already released a behind-the-scenes Montauk reveal and a live crossover feature pairing Oyeneyin with actor Hudson Williams.

How the Win Was Announced: A Surprise Mid-Class

The moment the Swim Search winner was revealed became one of the community’s most talked-about moments of 2025. On August 10, during a live 30-minute Rolling Hills Ride, Oyeneyin was surprised mid-class by Swim Search alum and two-time SI Swimsuit model Achieng Agutu, who delivered the news alongside Peloton instructors Kirsten Ferguson, Rad Lopez, Hannah Corbin, and Ash Pryor. Agutu made the announcement while Oyeneyin was still on the bike, telling her she had won the 2025 Swim Search and would appear in the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue as a rookie. Oyeneyin later said she initially thought there was a fire alarm. It was not a fire alarm. It was one of the standout moments in Peloton studio history.

From Swim Search Win to the Montauk Shoot

After winning the Swim Search, Oyeneyin traveled to Montauk, New York, for her debut shoot. Photographer Ben Watts captured the spread at Hero Beach Club, a property built in the 1950s and situated right on the Atlantic Ocean. Oyeneyin wore Toxic Sadie Swimwear for the feature. SI has already published a behind-the-scenes look at the Montauk shoot, available here, giving fans an early preview of what to expect when the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue lands next month.

What Her 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue Debut Means to Her

Ahead of her shoot, Oyeneyin shared her intention for the experience with SI: to remain present and in full gratitude. That approach tracks with how she has always shown up publicly. She has been open about her 70-pound weight loss journey and her path from makeup artist to Peloton instructor to New York Times bestselling author. Her memoir Speak centered on self-advocacy and using your voice. For someone who built a career on showing up fully, her approach to this debut is consistent with everything that got her there.

If you want to dig deeper into her story, The Clip Out’s early interview with Tunde is still worth a listen.

 

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The SI “Heated” Crossover with Hudson Williams

SI Swimsuit has already published a dedicated crossover feature pairing Oyeneyin with actor Hudson Williams, the Canadian actor at the center of Peloton’s viral Heated Rivalry campaign. Oyeneyin appeared in that campaign alongside Williams, and SI leaned into it by framing the two as a natural crossover between the Peloton world and entertainment media. The result is that the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue is already generating buzz ahead of its May release, not just for the magazine itself but for a campaign that has dominated Peloton coverage in recent weeks.

A Career That Keeps Expanding

This feature is the latest addition to a run of high-profile moments for Oyeneyin. She is the first fitness instructor named as a Nike Athlete. She joined Tyler Perry’s Sistas as a series regular, which she celebrated with a BET Sistas Ride on Peloton. She made her scripted acting debut on Hulu’s Life & Beth. Her Arms with Tunde program ranks in the top 3% of all programs on the platform, and if you haven’t tried it yet, here’s why it works. She has also been announced as a speaker at the Texas Conference for Women alongside Hoda Kotb and Kristen Bell. Her trajectory over the past year makes clear that Peloton has become a launchpad, not a ceiling.

Mark Your Calendar for the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue

The May 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue arrives in less than a month, and Tunde Oyeneyin’s full rookie debut will be worth the wait. In the meantime, the Montauk behind-the-scenes preview is live at swimsuit.si.com, and the Hudson Williams crossover feature is already published and worth a read. For members of The Clip Out community who voted in the Swim Search, this is the moment that vote was working toward, earned through years of work that went far beyond the ride. You can follow Tunde on Instagram at @tune2tunde to stay up to date as the May issue release gets closer.

Were you one of the members who voted for Tunde in the Swim Search, or were you riding along when the surprise announcement came through? Tell us in the comments.

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