The Suit That Started It All
There is only one swimsuit in television history that carries quite as much cultural weight as a crown, and Brooks Nader is now wearing it. The 29-year-old model and actress has been photographed on the beach filming scenes for Fox's upcoming Baywatch reboot, dressed in the legendary red one-piece — high-cut legs and all — that made the original show one of the most watched programmes on the planet.
The images offer fans their first proper look at Nader's character Selene, captain of the Zuma beach lifeguards, and it is fair to say the suit fits. Alongside Nader, the reboot boasts a cast that includes Stephen Amell, Shay Mitchell and Hassie Harrison, with the series set to premiere on Fox in January 2027.
'I Believed in This Long Before It Made Sense'
Fox announced Nader's casting back in March, noting on Instagram that she had 'sure manifested this one into being.' Nader wasted little time confirming the news on her own channels, posting a set of photographs that included a childhood snap of herself posing in — rather fittingly — a one-piece swimsuit, alongside another of her as a girl wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words 'movie star.'
"I believed in this long before it made sense. Never give up, chase your dreams no matter how wild they are."
It is the kind of origin story the Baywatch universe has always trafficked in. The original series, which ran for 11 seasons between 1989 and 2001, launched the careers of Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra — the latter of whom had been homeless in Los Angeles before landing her big break on the show's eighth season in 1997. The reboot will be hoping to replicate some of that star-making magic for a new generation.
The 'Influencer Casting' Row
Not everyone, however, has greeted the new lineup with open arms. When the full cast was revealed, a vocal section of social media took aim at the so-called influencer-heavy roster. Nader, TikTok star Noah Beck and gymnast-turned-content-creator Livvy Dunne — who has more than 13 million followers across her platforms — all drew criticism, with some observers branding it 'influencer casting, not acting' and dismissing the project as 'a JOKE' with an 'awful cast.'
Nader has addressed the backlash head-on, and her response is measured rather than defensive. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she argued that the landscape of entertainment has fundamentally shifted since the nineties, and that holding new talent to an old template misses the point.
"I think that the times are different, and everyone is so multi-hyphenate now. You can be both an actor and an influencer — that's the beauty of the culture that social media has created."
It is a reasonable argument. The original Baywatch cast were themselves products of their era — chosen as much for their looks and energy as for classical acting credentials — and the show became a global phenomenon regardless. Whether reach translates to ratings remains to be seen, but Fox is clearly betting that an audience already following these faces online will follow them onto the beach.
The Family Seal of Approval
There is one particularly charming footnote to Nader's casting. Speaking at the Fox Upfront 2026 red carpet, she revealed that growing up, her conservative parents had a strict no-bikini rule in the house — two-pieces were firmly off the table. The iconic red Baywatch one-piece, she noted with evident amusement, has been given the full family seal of approval. It is the kind of detail that makes you root for someone.
For more on the latest in entertainment and TV, keep an eye on Daily Insight as the Baywatch reboot builds towards its 2027 premiere.
