Yumi Nu

Yumi Nootenboom (born September 23, 1996), better known as Yumi Nu, is an American model and singer-songwriter. She appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2022, becoming the first plus-size model of Asian descent to do so. 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. She has stated that she was one of two Asian students in her school, and experienced racism while living in Maryland. When she was 14 years old, her family moved to Newport Beach, California.