Brooks Nader: From SI Swim Search to Reality TV and a Very Public Personal Life

Brooks Nader is an American model and television personality who moved from regional pageants and an open Sports Illustrated casting call to becoming one of the magazine’s most visible faces, and in 2025 she launched a reality series with her three sisters that has made her a fixture on entertainment pages. Born in Louisiana in 1997, Nader won the SI Swim Search casting route in 2019, became a SI Swimsuit rookie in 2020, and ultimately landed the magazine’s 2023 cover, milestones that helped vault her into a wider pop culture orbit.

Early life and path into modeling

Brooks Claire Nader grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the eldest of four sisters, and attended Tulane University before pursuing modeling full time. Her family background is frequently part of her public narrative, with the sisters described as tightly knit and often credited with providing emotional and practical support as Brooks navigated castings, runway work, and the New York social scene. The SI Swim Search win in 2019 served as a pivotal breaking point, turning an open casting call into a career that included multiple Sports Illustrated features and runway appearances.

Sports Illustrated and the breakout

How SI changed the trajectory

Winning the Swim Search and appearing in consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues established Nader as a mainstream commercial model, and her 2023 cover expanded that platform. She has discussed the process of balancing fitness, confidence, and public scrutiny, and she has described boxing as a key part of her workout routine for strength and tone. Her visibility with SI opened doors in fashion, media appearances, and brand partnerships.

Career milestones at a glance:

Television, reality TV, and public profile

In 2024 Nader joined Dancing with the Stars, a move that increased mainstream visibility and produced one of the storylines that would follow her into tabloid coverage. In 2025 she and her three younger sisters premiered Love Thy Nader, a Freeform and Hulu reality series that follows the family’s move from Louisiana to New York City, and explores modeling careers, relationships, and the pressures of sudden visibility. The show turned Brooks into not just a fashion face, but a reality TV personality with a more developed media narrative and recurring headlines.

Personal life, public relationships, and competing narratives

Nader’s private life has been very public in recent years, and reporting has presented multiple, sometimes contradictory, accounts about timing and legal status. She married Billy Haire in December 2019. The couple announced a separation in May 2024. Media coverage that followed documented on-again, off-again timelines, and at points outlets reported that Nader remained legally married while also dating or linked to other public figures.

Her time on Dancing with the Stars led to a widely reported romance with her professional partner, and the pair’s relationship drew intense attention, including matching tattoos that Nader later sought to remove. The relationship, and later disputes about fidelity, produced competing claims. Nader has publicly criticized the ex-partner’s behavior in media appearances, while the dancer has issued denials in other outlets. Those dueling versions have left parts of the story unsettled in the public record, and accounts differ on specific dates and legal technicalities.

There have also been tabloid reports and social sightings linking Nader with other high profile figures, which she has generally treated with humor or circumspection in interviews. Some reports are clearly labeled as unconfirmed or based on anonymous sources, and observers should treat them as rumor rather than established fact.

"I went through a lot of no’s before that yes, and it felt empowering," is the sort of comment Nader has used to describe her rise, highlighting both persistence and the unexpected paths that launched her career.

Public image, fashion choices, and criticism

Brooks Nader has become known for bold red carpet and social looks, often choosing sheer or revealing gowns that generate conversation. Reactions have been mixed: some fashion commentators praise the confidence and editorial risk taking, while others question whether such moments are calculated for attention. Nader has spoken about working with stylists and wardrobe teams to achieve the looks, and she frames many choices as part of an expressive, modern approach to body confidence.

Controversies and media scrutiny

• Reports of on-set relationships and subsequent disputes have driven tabloid coverage.
• Tattoo decisions and removals, public breakups, and social media posts have all fed celebrity narratives.
• Rumors have circulated about other high profile dating links, but those items are often based on anonymous sources and should be treated cautiously.

Presenting multiple viewpoints matters here: Nader and her representatives have at times described splits as amicable, while other outlets have emphasized drama and allegations. The dancer involved denied some claims, and Nader later used interviews and her reality series to give her perspective.

What’s next for Brooks Nader

As of 2025 Brooks Nader has broadened her portfolio from swimsuit pages to television, and the early reception to Love Thy Nader has signaled a sustained public appetite for the family’s story. Her career path now blends modeling, reality entertainment, and the sort of personal-branding moves that keep personalities visible across platforms. For Nader, the immediate challenges will include managing public scrutiny, shaping the narrative in her own forums, and translating reality TV attention into long-term creative and business opportunities.

Key takeaways

• Rise: From a 2019 open casting to a Sports Illustrated cover in 2023.
• Pivot to TV: DWTS in 2024 increased mainstream visibility, followed by a 2025 reality series with her sisters.
• Public scrutiny: High-profile relationships and tabloid coverage have created conflicting public narratives.
• Branding: Nader mixes bold fashion moments with media appearances to maintain a high-profile career.

Further reading and how we covered this

This article summarizes verifiable, published reporting about Brooks Nader, including interviews, press releases, and mainstream entertainment coverage. Where public accounts conflict, this piece notes the competing narratives and encourages readers to consider statements from primary participants alongside independent reporting.

If you want a shorter timeline, or more detail about a specific episode, relationship, or the reality show, tell me which piece you want expanded and I will pull together a focused update.