Caribbean Queen

The St. Thomas native has her own TV show, covered numerous magazines and carved an eternal place in our minds. Meet Hannah Jeter, the supermodel with a plan.

- Nicola Kraus

Hannah Jeter likes to win. After years of struggling to make a name for herself in the notoriously high-turnover world of modelling, the former tennis champion is now squarely front and centre. She’s the star of arguably the most controversial swimsuit cover of all time, the popular host of Project Runway: Junior and recreated the iconic role of the girl in the Ferrari in National Lampoon reboot. Spend a minute with her and it’s obvious why the 28-year-old has risen so high.

We met at Long Island City’s Circus Warehouse—her choice—because she wanted to try aerial acrobatics. I arrived early, but she was even earlier, happily sitting in the waiting area without handlers like any twenty-something from the neighbourhood, ready to start her Sunday hanging upside down. Even in casual workout clothes and no makeup, she is ridiculously beautiful. Her eyes are an unusual shade of blue-green, and her skin is the colour of toasted sand. But what strikes you immediately is her warmth, her quick smile, her easy laugh.

Eyeing the people spinning above us near the ceiling, without a net, I ask “Why trapeze?” hoping for a bit of reassurance from the former athlete. “I like to try new things,” she says with her slender arms crossed. “I thought this would be fun.”

Our instructor, Summer Lacy, begins the lesson by showing us how to hold a trapeze bar, telling us to trust that our harnesses will work as we leave the comfort of earth.

“I’m not a worrier,” Hannah says. “There’s no point. My philosophy is to let everyone else worry.”