Miami Heat Cheerleader Chelsea Varsaci Shares Swimsuit Photo

Miami Heat cheerleader Chelsea Varsaci is gearing up for another NBA season by looking and feeling her absolute best. The dancer and attorney is seen wearing a brown swimsuit top and blue jeans, getting her hair ready for dance auditions (along with her fellow cheerleaders) at Brooke Vibrant studios. “Day in the life of getting my Miami heat dancers ready for auditions,” the stylist captioned the video. Varsaci seems to have it all—so how does she do it? Here’s how she has the energy and focus for both her day job and her dance career.

1. Forging Her Own Path

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Varsaci is an attorney as well as a dancer, and sees no reason to choose between the two. “I am currently dancing with the Miami HEAT and an attorney,” she says. “That was a journey of its own. Every step I’ve taken has gotten me to where I am today. One thing I say that has gotten me there was that I didn’t let people tell me the path I was supposed to take. I wanted to take my own path and decide how I wanted to do it. Being in law school and practicing as a HEAT Dancer, people will always say you can't do both and you have to give up one for the other. But I didn’t want to do that, I wanted to follow my dreams and do things my way.

2. She’s a Beach Baby

Varsaci is a Miami girl, so the beach is her second home. Being outside in the sunshine is good for both mental and physical health. “I often ask patients to take their mood temperature — a measurement from 0 to 10, with 10 being the best mood — before and after taking a walk outside,” says Susan Evans, PhD. “People are often surprised at how much their mood improves.”

3. Discipline and Focus

Varsaci says it’s possible to be in school and also dance—but it takes hard work and sacrifice. “So, you wake up in the morning and you go to school, if you want to dance you do your homework and dance, you do it all,” she says. “I was raised to have that dedication and determination in everything I’ve done. So, whatever it takes to reach that final outcome, it’s what you do. If you stay up late, if you have to make it work, if you have to talk to your coaches, talk to your employee's things like that when you have the understanding and passion behind it; other people will understand and are more willing to help you get to your goal.”

4. Snow Bunny

Varsaci refers to herself as a “snow bunny” due to her love for winter sports. “Skiing and snowboarding are thrilling activities and great workouts,” according to experts at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “Both sports are excellent cardiovascular exercises that strengthen the heart. Because they are also weight-bearing exercises, they strengthen your bones as they tone your muscles. Cardiovascular or aerobic exercises also work to reduce your risk for chronic diseases, and lower blood pressure. They also help you maintain a healthy body weight.”

5. Trailblazing Women

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Varsaci is proud to be thriving in a traditionally male-dominated space. “Being an attorney in a male-dominated career has been hard and it has presented struggles,” she says. “But one thing that women have gone leaps and bounds with and walking in and knowing their worth. Walking and knowing they did the same amount of work; they did the same steps as it took for men to get to the same positions. Now, the confidence they have brought behind that transformed the whole legal industry and women are now Supreme Court Justices and are at the top thanks to the women before us have laid that path, and now, it’s on us to follow that path and make it greater.”

New York Knicks Cheerleader Michelle Leonardo got married over the summer and had the most incredible honeymoon in Europe. Leonardo shared pictures of the trip, including snaps of herself posing in a bright pink SKIMS bikini on a boat with husband Alexander Tan. “Sicily, you were a dream. Next stop, St. Tropez. #honeymooners,” she captioned the post. “Barbie & Ken- the pre release,” teased a friend in the comments. Leonardo has one of the busiest schedules for an NBA dancer—here’s how she stays fit, happy, and fabulous.

1. Intense Training

Leonardo says the training regimen for the Knicks City Dancers is not for the faint of heart. “Throughout the last 5 years I was often asked the question ‘how do you do it all?’ While holding down a full time career in media, I somehow fit in multiple 6-10 pm rehearsals and 2-11 pm game days each week, promos and appearances, and everything in between,” she says. “I usually answered this question by laughing and saying ‘I don’t sleep’. While that was half true, the whole truth is I did it all because it was my purpose. The sweat, sore muscles, exhaustion, I loved it, because I loved this team and the purpose it gave me. This team turned a 25 year old girl into a woman who knows exactly who she is, who can confidently go in any direction and who can always hold her own.”

2. Yoga Sessions

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Leonardo makes time for yoga, even when her schedule is crazy. “Time management is really important, and taking care of yourself is really important,” she says. “We have really long, hard practices. I’m usually doing physical activity at least four to eight hours a couple days a week, so eating right and getting enough sleep is crucial. With work, I’m the type that likes to bullet-point everything. So I have my to-do list, and I’m just constantly checking things off.”

3. Busy Schedule

Leonardo’s days are filled with team practice as well as her non-cheer responsibilities. “Every day is different and I love it,” she says. “My day is typically dictated by what my night looks like. I’m usually in the office around 9am – 5:30pm then rush uptown to be at rehearsal from 6pm – 10pm. If I have a game, we’re on the court anywhere from 1pm – 3pm for rehearsal/sound check. So I’m on the go from 9am – 10pm.”

4. Pageant Queen

Leonardo’s background in pageant competitions made her a shoo-in for cheerleading. “I’m actually a former pageant girl, so beauty and makeup and hair is sort of embedded in my DNA,” she says. “My go-to lipstick is MAC in Angel, and I love MAC blushes, too. I’m really big on the blush color Harmony right now.”

5. Unique Dancers

Leonardo loves how unique the Knicks City Dancers are compared to other NBA cheer teams. “I always knew who the Knicks City Dancers were, but who they were back when I first learned about them compared to when I rediscovered them was very different,” she says. “The team rebranded; we’re very Broadway, and we have beautiful costumes, so we’re not a typical NBA team. When I saw the costumes and the production and the lighting, it was just something I knew I wanted to be involved with. I decided to audition about six months out, and I prepared every day. I knew if I was gonna do it, I had to give it my all.”

Denver Broncos cheerleader Berkleigh Wright isn’t ready to say goodbye to summer (or her swimsuits) just yet. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit finalist took some time off from her busy schedule as an account manager and professional NFL cheerleader to get some R&R at the Clayton Members Club & Hotel in Denver. Wright shared pictures of herself posing in a white one-piece swimsuit, with a white shirt and straw hat. “Summer’s not over until Clayton says it’s over ☀️,” she captioned the post. Here’s how she works hard, plays hard, and cheers hard.

1. Look Good, Feel Good

Wright starts the day with a cup of matcha green tea to wake up and hit the ground running. “I’m all about the look good, feel good, work good vibes,” she says. “I always like to wake up and do my full skincare [routine], put on a fresh face and make sure that I’m setting myself up for success and a productive day.”

2. Sports Illustrated Beckons

Wright was a finalist in the Sports Illustrated Swim Search competition (no surprise there!). “I took this leap of faith because I feel that Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] is a world-class organization that embodies everything I strive to be as a woman,” she says. “It extends beyond beauty: they stand for being a strong individual with depth, brains, kindness and integrity. A brand that celebrates everyone’s differences, exhibiting that our imperfections are what makes us beautiful. SI Swim helped me embrace those ideals in myself, and now I strive to imprint that mindset in others.”

3. Skiing Trips

Like a true Colorado girl, Wright is at home on the slopes. “It’s well documented that skiing and snowboarding benefits cardiovascular health, overall fitness, strength, coordination, balance and more,” says the Canadian Ski Council. “Regardless of your health and fitness goals, strapping on a pair of skis or a snowboard is sure to fulfill some of them. Due to the versatility of skiing and snowboarding, it can encompass the benefits of a cardio workout, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session, and strength training session, all in one fun activity.”

4. Advice To Younger Self

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Wright’s advice she would give her younger self is all about self-love and confidence. “Listen to your heart. If something is on it, it is there for a reason. Some things are only meant to be in your life for a reason or a season. Letting them go with grace will make room for what is meant to stay. Find your people and hold them close. Kindness is cool. Your authentic, genuine, weird and quirky self is the MOST beautiful thing you can be.”

5. Role Model

Wright wants to use her platform with the Denver Broncos and Sports Illustrated to be a role model for younger women. “Winning SI Swim Search to me means being a part of something bigger than myself,” she says. “Being a member of the Sports Illustrated family and having this powerful platform would help me further myself as a mentor and reach a wider audience of our youth. A mentor that demonstrates to our younger generation that you are not limited by your external factors, but rather unlimited by the person you can become from the inside out.”

Manuela Alvarez Hernandez is one of the hot new models right now. In 2019, she was one of Sports Illustrated’s SI Swim Search winners. And her recent Instagram post proves why she got the job. Hernandez shared a set of photos from the beach. She wore a bunch of different swimsuits, including one in yellow, one in orange, and one in black. Hernandez captioned the post, “Leaving these here just before summer ends.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Manuela Alvarez Hernandez stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Wants To Inspire Others

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Hernandez wants to be an inspiration for other Latina models. She talked about this in an interview with HOLA USA, after winning the SI Swim Search. “It’s an honor,” she said. “And for me, it’s huge because coming from Medellin and moving to the U.S., I didn’t really think that my life was going to take this direction. The fact that I’m following my dreams, and I get to be myself and represent Latinas is truly an honor.”

2. She Changed Her Diet and Exercise

Hernandez talked about how she prepped for the SI shoot to HOLA USA. “I knew that the day of the shoot I wanted to feel my best and feel confident,” she said. “A few weeks before, I did work out a lot. I would go to the gym once or twice a day every single day. I tried to cut out dairy, meat and tried to have mainly a plant-based diet. It was really hard for me just because I love food. I love pizza; I love carbs. It really did take a lot for me to restrain myself from eating meat and all the fried foods and all the good stuff. That’s probably the best shape I’ve been in in my life.”

3. She Prioritized Education

At the 2019 SI Swimsuit On Location event in Miami, Hernandez revealed to a reporter that she put school ahead of her modeling dreams. “It honestly feels like a crazy dream,” Hernandez said. “It’s insane to see that it’s becoming a reality and I’m living it. Honestly, I’m really glad that I went to school and got my degree and that now I have the chance to do modeling all the time. Now I’m in LA, so it’s honestly just been amazing.”

4. She Swims

As you can see from her recent Instagram post, Hernandez likes to go to the beach. One thing she likes to do there is swim. She shared this video on Instagram of herself running into the water. Hernandez captioned the post, “I love this feeling.” Better Health states that, “Swimming is a great recreational activity for people of all ages. Recreational swimming can provide you with a low-impact workout and it's a good way to relax and feel good.”

5. She Skis

Swimming isn’t the only outdoor workout Hernandez likes to do. She also enjoys going skiing. Hernandez shared this set of photos and videos of herself on the slopes of Big Bear Mountain. She captioned the post, “A fun day on the mountain.” SkiCanada.org states, “It’s well documented that skiing and snowboarding benefits cardiovascular health, overall fitness, strength, coordination, balance and more. Regardless of your health and fitness goals, strapping on a pair of skis or a snowboard is sure to fulfill some of them. Due to the versatility of skiing and snowboarding, it can encompass the benefits of a cardio workout, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session, and strength training session, all in one fun activity.”