As one of Sports Illustrated’s latest swimsuit models, Maggie Rawlins makes the heart beat faster.
But Rawlins, 28, can help with that blood pressure spike – she’s a registered nurse.
The South Carolina native, who modeled for the Intimissimi lingerie brand and received the October cover of Elle Croatia, worked at a medical facility in Queens last spring during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was working in LA, and I booked a return flight [to South Carolina] thinking it would take about a month, ”Rawlins told The Post. Then the nurse call went, so she immediately raised her hand and left for New York City in late March 2020.
“I had the skills as a nurse, and it was a responsibility more than anything. You just hit the ground. There were many obstacles. “
Asked if any patients or colleagues knew about her day job, she said: “Absolutely not. And I don’t think anyone would have cared at the time. “
The 5-foot, 7-inch Rawlins was scouted for modeling as a teenager. But she always wanted to be a nurse, just like her grandmother who spent the night in labor and delivery. After graduating from college, she was working as a hematology oncology nurse in South Carolina when a Miami agency contacted.
“At first I thought it was a bit of a scam, but my manager told me to go for it. She told me to keep my driver’s license active, and if I didn’t like it, I could always return, ”she said.
Rawlins retained her credentials by volunteering with the nonprofit OneWorld Health, and traveled to countries such as Uganda and Nicaragua, where she worked as a triage nurse, before jumping back in to help pandemic-ravaged NYC.
And in December, Rawlins, who is married to her childhood neighbor George Douglas III and now lives in Manhattan, got another life-changing call: She was tapped to pose for the prestigious bikini bible.
‘I had no idea I was even on SI’s radar. I got a call from my agent saying I was ready. Two hours later, he said, ‘You’ve been confirmed for Sports Illustrated and you’ll be shooting in three weeks,’ Rawlins said, adding that she had indulged in red wine and needed to get back into shape quickly.
“I’ve done a lot of Pilates and the Sculpt Society app at home with Megan Roup,” said Rawlins, whose favorite SI swim models are Kathy Ireland and Elle Macpherson.
She hopes this bikini moment will catch the eye of health professionals.
“I want to emphasize that I’ve only been there for three weeks, which is nothing compared to the sacrifices they made,” she said, adding, “COVID hasn’t stopped for them.”