Yumi Nu

Yumi Nu (born September 23, 1996) is an American model. She appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2022, becoming the first plus-size model of Asian-American descent to do so.

Early life Nu was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on September 23, 1996. She is of Japanese and Dutch descent. Her mother, Kana Grace Nootenboom, is the daughter of Rocky Aoki, the founder of the Benihana restaurant chain. Her mother modeled and brought Nu to participate in shoots as an infant. Nu is the niece of Devon Aoki and Steve Aoki.

Nu's family moved from New Jersey to Maryland when she was seven years old.

Career Nu began modeling in 2010. She began practicing songwriting at the age of 12, and wrote her first song in 2016. Nu released an extended play in June 2019. Nu is signed to her uncle's record label, Dim Mak Records. She was on the cover of the American and Japanese editions of Vogue in 2021, and also appeared in British Vogue. Nu was one of the cover models for the Swimsuit Issue in 2022, and released her second EP, Hajime, in May 2022. She was also invited to the White House's celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May 2022.

Personal life Nu resides in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Her younger sister, Natalie Nootenboom, is also a model.