Gabi Moura is having a year that most people only dream about. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie, who first caught the internet's attention on TikTok, just celebrated her birthday in true Moura fashion: with a jaw-dropping swimsuit photoshoot that has fans hitting the like button nonstop.
Moura's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After building a massive following on TikTok, she landed a spot in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show last October. But her biggest breakthrough came this May when she appeared in the 2026 edition of SI Swimsuit. "I'm a SI Swimsuit rookie like whaaaaa," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "I cannot believe this is my life right nowww!!! a dream come trueee."
While that debut was a month ago, Moura hasn't slowed down. To kick off her birthday celebrations, she posted a series of swimsuit photos on Instagram that quickly went viral. SI Swimsuit also joined the party, sharing a few shots from her rookie shoot in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Moura's birthday comes just days after she went viral for attending Brazil's opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The Brazilian squad settled for a 1-1 draw against Morocco in that opener, but they bounced back with a 3-0 win over Haiti on Friday. Fans are already speculating whether Moura will show up to Brazil's final group stage match against Scotland on Wednesday.
This isn't the first time a model has turned heads with a birthday swimsuit shoot. Earlier this year, Emily Ratajkowski turned heads with birthday swimsuit snaps at 35, proving that the tradition is alive and well. And during the World Cup, Sophia Havertz turned up the heat in swimsuit during World Cup, adding to the list of models making waves both on and off the pitch.
Moura's journey from TikTok star to SI Swimsuit model is a testament to the power of social media in today's sports and entertainment world. Her ability to connect with fans has opened doors that few can imagine, and she's making the most of every opportunity.
As Brazil pushes through the World Cup group stage, all eyes will be on both the team and their most famous fan. Whether she's cheering from the stands or posting from the beach, Gabi Moura is proving that she's a star in her own right.
