As one of Sports Illustrated’s latest swimwear models, Maggie Rawlins sets pulses in motion.
But Rawlins, 28, can help with the high blood pressure – she’s a registered nurse.
The South Carolina-born, who was modeled for the lingerie brand Intimissimi and ended up on the cover of Elle Croatia, worked in a medical facility in Queens last spring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘I worked in LA and I booked a flight back [to South Carolina] think it would be a month or so, “Rawlins told The Post. When the call went out to nurses, she immediately raised her hand and went to New York City at the end of March 2020.
‘I had the skill as a nurse, and it was more than anything else. . . You just ran the ground. There were many obstacles. ”
Asked if patients or staff know about her day job, she says: “Absolutely not. And I do not think anyone would have cared at that point. ”
The 5-foot, 7-inch Rawlins was wanted for modeling as a teenager. But she always wanted to be a nurse, just like her grandmother who worked overnight in labor and childbirth. After graduating from high school, she was working as a hematology oncology nurse in South Carolina when she reached an agency in Miami.
“At first I thought it was a scam, but my nurse’s manager said he should go for it. She said to keep my license active, and if I do not like it, I can always come back, ‘she said.
Rawlins retained her credentials by volunteering at OneWorld Health, and traveled to countries like Uganda and Nicaragua and worked as a triage nurse before stepping in again to help the pandemic-stricken NYC.
And in December, Rawlins, who is married to her neighbor George Douglas III and now lives in Manhattan, received another life-changing call: she was tapped to introduce herself to the coveted bikini bible.
‘I had no idea I was even on SI’s radar. I got a call from my agent to say I was getting it right. Then he said two hours later, ‘You’re confirmed for Sports Illustrated, and you’ll be shooting in three weeks,’ ‘Rawlins said, adding that she feasted on red wine and quickly had to bounce back into shape.
“I did 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 maternity moment pays attention to health workers.
“I want to emphasize that I was only there for three weeks, which is nothing compared to the sacrifices they made,” she said, adding: “COVID has not stopped for them yet.”