RISING ICON

Celebrates trailblazers rising as the next defining voices of the swimwear industry, inspiring audiences through confidence, authenticity, and undeniable influence while shaping the future of fashion, culture, and empowerment.

RISING ICON
Model, entrepreneur, and advocate, Anderson represents a new generation of talent shaping fashion through vision, authenticity, and impact.
From redefining representation on global runways to building platforms that champion inclusion and empower emerging voices, her influence extends far beyond the industry she works within.
As Swimwear Icons looks toward the future, the Rising Icon Honor recognizes those forging what comes next — and few embody that spirit more than Leomie Anderson.
Swimwear Icons Honors Night 2026 returns to Miami Beach for its second annual event, Wednesday May 27th, celebrating the visionaries and cultural leaders shaping the future of swimwear, fashion, and global summer culture.

PHOTOGRAPHER ICON

Honoring visionary photographers whose work captures the essence of summer and reflects broader cultural shifts, inspiring a new perspective on style, freedom, and self-expression.

PHOTOGRAPHER ICON
Ellen von Unwerth
Ellen von Unwerth, born in 1954 in Germany, gained wide attention with her sensual Guess
campaign in the early 1990s. This was followed by campaigns for Absolut, Agent
Provocateur, A.P.C., Aston Martin, Baccarat, Belvedere, Chanel, Chantal Thomass, Crazy
Horse, David Morris, Diesel, Dior, Elisabetta Franchi, Ferragamo, G-Star, Guerlain, H&M,
Hysteric Glamour, Jimmy Choo, Lacoste, L’Oréal, MAC Cosmetics, Mary Katrantzou,
Mercedes-Benz, Miu Miu, Opel, Revlon, Rolex, Shiseido, Tommy Hilfiger, Veuve Clicquot,
Victoria’s Secret, and many more.
She is a regular contributor to magazines worldwide, including Cosmopolitan, Egoïste,
ELLE, Glamour, i-D, Interview, Lula, Numéro, Paper Magazine, Playboy, Stern, The Face,
The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and numerous international editions of V ogue (American,
French, German, Italian, Russian). She has also directed short films for clients such as
Azzedine Alaïa, Dior, Guess, and Katharine Hamnett, as well as a range of commercials and
music videos. In addition, she has created album cover imagery for major artists including
Rihanna, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Addison Rae, Gwen
Stefani, and many more.
Book projects form an important part of her career. Her first book, Snaps, was published in
1994, followed by Wicked (1998), Couples (1999), the photo-novella Revenge (2003),
Omahyra & Boyd (2005), Fräulein (2009), Die Spieler (2010), the photo-novella The Story of
Olga (2012), and more recently Heimat (2017).
Her work has been exhibited worldwide and is part of numerous collections. Her exhibition
Devotion! 30 Years of Photographing Women was created for Fotografiska Stockholm in
2018 and was later shown at Fotografiska New York in 2020, followed by Fotografiska
Tallinn. In 2018, the monographic magazine Ellen von Unwerth’s VON was launched
internationally, both in print and online, with one annual print edition featuring A-list talents
including Miley Cyrus, Cate Blanchett, Dove Cameron, and Julia Fox.
V on Unwerth has received several awards, including First Prize at the International Festival
of Fashion Photography in 1991, the Lucie Award for Career Achievement in Fashion
Photography in October 2019, a Royal Photographic Society award in 2020, the Iconic
Photographer Influencer Award in 2021, and the ELLE Best Fashion Photographer Award in
2024. In 2023, the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, Georgia, opened anexhibition of her work. Most recently, Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof presented her solo
exhibition My Circus, featuring 150 images, in Maastricht in 2026.
SHORT
Ellen von Unwerth, born 1954 in Germany, gained wide attention with her sensual Guess
campaign in the early 1990s, followed by campaigns for dozens of the world's most
recognizable brands. She is a regular contributor to magazines all over the world (such as
many international V ogue editions) and has directed short films for designers along with a
range of commercials and music videos. Her book projects are an important part of her
career: Her first book, Snaps, was published in 1994, with many in between including most
lately Heimat (2017). Her works have been exhibited worldwide, and are part of various
collections. V on Unwerth has won several prizes, amongst others the first prize at the
International Festival of Fashion Photography in 1991, a LUCIE award for her career
achievement in Fashion Photography in October 2019, a Royal Photographic Society award
in 2020, and an Iconic Photographer Influencer Award in 2021.

CULTURAL ICON

Honors visionary tastemakers and influential voices who transcend fashion to shape culture, spark global conversations, and inspire communities through authenticity, creativity, and lasting impact across entertainment, style, and society.

CULTURAL ICON
Bex McCharen is an interdisciplinary artist, fashion designer and founder of the inclusive fashion label Chromat. They are the recipient of the Smithsonian National Design Award and have been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Hyperallergic, and Vogue, and named to the OUT 100 for their cultural impact.

McCharen’s practice spans textile art, fashion, and social practice, using collaborative processes to reimagine systems of care, trans embodiment, and belonging.

They have collaborated with Beyoncé, Intel, Disney, and Reebok. McCharen has delivered a TED Talk on inclusive design and lectured at SXSW, Harvard, Parsons, MIT, and Tulane. Their work is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and they curated ‘Queer Joy’ at MoMA PS1.
In 2026, they presented their debut solo exhibition of visual art at Dot Fiftyone Gallery. They also facilitate community-based workshops at the Perez Art Museum Miami, Lotus House Women’s Shelter, the Alliance for LGBTQ Youth, the Miami Cancer Institute and is currently in residence at Oolite Arts.

DESIGNER ICON

Celebrates visionary designers redefining the world of swimwear through innovation, craftsmanship, and distinctive creative expression, setting new standards in fashion while inspiring confidence, individuality, and the evolution of modern style.

DESIGNER ICON
Former model-turned-designer Melissa Odabash possesses an intrinsic understanding of what women seek in swimwear and beachwear. Since the brand’s inception, her collections have been meticulously crafted to sculpt and enhance the female form, blending timeless elegance with innovative textiles. Characterized by clean lines and impeccable tailoring, her designs effortlessly complement diverse body types, making them an essential for the sophisticated global traveller.

Melissa Odabash’s eponymous debut collection launched 25 years ago, earning immediate acclaim from British Vogue, which famously hailed it as “The Ferraris of the bikini world.” Celebrated for redefining swimwear by seamlessly merging high fashion with functionality, her brand has since evolved into a global lifestyle empire, encompassing beachwear, ready-to-wear, loungewear, accessories, and childrenswear.
With nearly three decades of excellence in the industry, Melissa’s unwavering commitment to design innovation and mastery of luxury fabrics have solidified her reputation as a pioneering force in fashion. Her achievements have been recognized through numerous prestigious accolades, including Designer of the Year in Paris, the esteemed Founder’s Award from WIE, and the Humanitarian Award from the Future Dreams charity. Further cementing her legacy, Melissa’s outstanding contributions to the swimwear industry and her philanthropic endeavours were honoured with an MBE, bestowed upon her by Her Majesty the Queen.
Melissa Odabash’s collections are globally renowned, with an extensive presence across luxury department stores, exclusive boutiques, and premier resorts. Complementing this international reach is her global e-commerce platform, ensuring seamless access to her designs. Further solidifying her brand’s prestige, Melissa has established flagship boutiques in London’s most distinguished districts—Notting Hill and Chelsea—offering clients an immersive, personalized shopping experience. Her retail presence extends beyond the UK, with a boutique on Rue Gambetta in the heart of St. Tropez and a well-established store in the exclusive Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, she continues to expand her footprint through seasonal stores in key international destinations, enhancing accessibility to her signature aesthetic.
With an ever-growing global following, Melissa has collaborated with an array of high-profile personalities and esteemed brands. Notable collaborations include an exclusive partnership with Victoria’s Secret, where she designed their best-selling bikini, and an iconic campaign with Bryan Adams for Speedo’s 75th Anniversary. She also developed the perfect swimwear in collaboration with Gwyneth Paltrow for her esteemed lifestyle platform, GOOP. Beyond fashion, Melissa’s expertise has been sought after by the film industry, where she has worked closely with costume departments, reimagining the legendary swimsuits for the film Diana, starring Naomi Watts, and providing her best-selling Sports Luxe designs for Jennifer Lawrence in Passengers.
Throughout her distinguished career, Melissa Odabash has remained deeply committed to philanthropy, dedicating her time and expertise to numerous charitable initiatives. She has collaborated with renowned organizations such as Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, the Prince’s Trust, and CHIVA, while also partnering with Elton John to design an exclusive hat in support of his AIDS Foundation. In 2015, she took a groundbreaking step in inclusive design by launching her debut mastectomy swimwear collection in partnership with the Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity—an initiative she has continued annually, ensuring ongoing support for those affected by breast cancer.
Beyond the realm of fashion, Melissa is a passionate advocate for education, inspiring the next generation of talent. She has been invited to speak at esteemed institutions, including addressing Harvard alumni in New York and mentoring aspiring designers at London’s prestigious Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design.
Her influence extends far beyond the atelier, as her designs are favoured by an elite clientele of A-list icons, including Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, and Beyoncé, who frequently choose her pieces for their jet-set lifestyles. A fixture in the world’s most esteemed fashion publications—Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar—Melissa Odabash continues to set the standard for timeless luxury, reinforcing her enduring legacy as a visionary in the fashion industry.