Wanderlusts 2017: IMG Model Hannah Ferguson’s St. Thomas

by Eddie Roche

As one of IMG Models’ most in-demand talents, Hannah Ferguson spends much of her time traveling around the world. Her favorite destination? St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

What initially brought you to St. Thomas?
My boyfriend, Conn [Davis], grew up there. He’s a true St. Thomian, and we stay at his family’s home. Conn’s family has a boat, so we try to take it out every day if the weather permits. In St. Thomas, it’s always summer!

What do you love most about St. Thomas?
The ability to fish and be in the ocean. I love the way I feel when I’m sun-kissed and have salt on my skin—healthy and vibrant. Being in that environment and chilling out and getting out of the crazy city really clears my head. It’s a good reset, mentally and physically.

Had you ever fished before?
Yes, but more so after I met my boyfriend. I grew up in a small town in Texas, and we had lakes there, so we’d fish, but they weren’t saltwater fish, so they weren’t quite as delicious. When I went to St. Thomas for my birthday this year, I caught a 57-pound wahoo fish, which was pretty amazing. I also caught a mahi-mahi.

Did you eat them?
[Laughs] Of course! They’re so good. The wahoo makes really good sashimi and we grill the mahi-mahi. That’s how we eat every time we go down there. Fresh fish! Straight out of the ocean. It really is the best.

Growing up, you fed chickens and herded goats. Is it harder to herd goats or fish?
It depends on the size of the fish! That wahoo was so hard—I thought my arm was going to fall off. That was definitely harder than herding goats.

How else do you spend your time in St. Thomas?
Snorkeling and free diving. I can’t dive down very deep, because my ears are sensitive. I’m not scuba certified, but it’s on my bucket list.

Tell us about that shot of you in the pool. Where was that taken?
Conn’s family home. The backyard is beautiful. St. Thomas has a lot of hills, and the land kind of drops off on the other side.

Your body looks incredible. How do you stay in shape?
I run! I occasionally do SLT, which is amazing and intense in terms of resistance and tightening and lifting of the butt and muscles. In the Virgin Islands, we’re in the water every day, so we swim a lot. I also hike every morning. I stay active. On vacation, you can let go really quickly with the piña coladas!

What were your holidays like growing up?
We didn’t really go on vacations as a kid. We had a big family, and we didn’t grow up with a ton of money. We did do a road trip around America when I was 12 to Ohio, the Carolinas, and Florida.

How does it feel to take luxurious vacations as an adult?
It’s a blessing. I always knew that I loved the ocean, and I wanted to be near it before I even set foot on a beach. Now, I work on beaches all the time. I’m really grateful to have these opportunities.

How should Virgin Islands virgins spend their first vacation on the island?
Snorkeling is a must. The water is so warm and so beautiful. St. John is usually a hit, because it has cool bars and restaurants. Great hiking, too.

What are your plans for this summer?
We’ve been wanting to go to Cuba, so hopefully that’s happening in the near future. I also love Turks and Caicos—I’d love to go back there with friends. The water is insane.

You’ve been busy lately!
I’ve been getting more into high fashion and editorials. I’m getting a good response from photographers, so we’re paving the way for that. So far, things are going great. I walked the runway for the first time in February. Yeezy was my first fashion show, and I got to open it, which was crazy and surreal. After that, I went to Milan and walked for Max Mara, Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, and Blumarine. I’m hoping to walk more shows in September.

You’re also in V Magazine’s “The New Girls!” spread. It’s good to see you’re still a new girl!
I know, right? It makes me feel young!

Read the issue HERE.

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