Penny Lane commands attention in polka-dot bikini at Miami Swim Week

Over 30 million views accumulated for a video of Penny Lane in a sheer black bathing suit during her May runway walk for Sports Illustrated Swim at Miami Swim Week. That appearance was not her only high-profile moment this summer. Earlier in the season, the 31-year-old British model appeared in a tiny printed bikini, highlighting her figure while walking with energy and confidence.

She wore a stringy halterneck two-piece featuring ruffly trim and a crisp polka-dot print across both top and bottoms. The outfit — in dark blue and watermelon-red shades — emphasized her toned abs and pronounced chest. Her expression remained upbeat throughout, and she smiled broadly as she moved.

Origin of the “Water Balloons” Label

In early July, The Blast reported that fans had begun referring to Lane’s chest as “water balloons.” That description gained traction following her May SI Swim runway appearance and resurfaced again in connection with her earlier summer polka-dot bikini moment.

Her Instagram following has since grown to more than 600,000. A March X repost showing her in a classic black bikini — lounging on a lounger in shallow water, wearing a belly band and nearly spilling from the top — received over 6,000 likes.

Modeling Beginnings and SI Swim Debut

Lane told Parallel magazine she was scouted at an early age by a modeling agency. “I was scared out of my mind, but there was no way I was going to ignore that feeling. So I moved to London! And ever since I have lived and traveled through my work and, passion as a model,” she said.

She made her Sports Illustrated Swim debut in 2024. Since then, she has appeared in multiple revealing outfits: a braless sheer dress, a teeny bikini highlighting what fans call her “incredible rack,” and a look exposing sideboob. Comments frequently reference her “good bounce.”

“I found some sort of pull towards modeling. It was a way to portray a character and perform a creative outlet,” Lane added.

Letting her wavy hair fall past her shoulders, she wore makeup with prominent blush over foundation and lipstick in the photo where she displayed her abs and chest at an SI Swim event — this time pairing a tiny top with a matching sarong skirt.