The Rookies

NBA ROOKIE Kevin Durant ? Impressive, a near lock to own video-game covers and eight-figure shoe contracts for the next decade. The most recent major league baseball rookie class, which included Ryan Braun , Joba Chamberlain , Jacoby Ellsbury and Troy Tulowitzki ? One of the most promising in recent memory. But we're a little more taken, we'll admit, by another collection of eye-popping newbies who are certain to generate even more excitement and enthusiasm. And we happen to think that just about any pulse-bearing male would agree.

Not sold? What if these rookies were to let you in on a secret or two? Not just any old secret, such as their favorite band or actor—though they're happy to share that too—but that, for instance, one of them wears a nipple ring? That she also longs to be intimate with Angelina Jolie ? That another rookie loves late-night skinny-dipping sessions in the Indian Ocean , just off the western coast of Australia ? Ooh, ooh and ooh—right? We get it. Sign you up.

With that understanding, here's our septet of Swimsuit rookies, plus a handful of insider knowledge about each one. Think of it as a peek into the Supermodel Diaries.

QUIANA GRANT

BORN
Newport News , Va.

RESIDES
New York City

The one thing that I'm absolutely obsessed with lately is ...
Reality TV. It's kind of embarrassing, but I'm obsessed with America's Next Top Model , American Idol and Celebrity Fit Club.

I feel a secret connection with ...
Chris Webber because he is mysterious to me. Even when he was dating Tyra Banks , you didn't hear anything about him. It's the unknown. He's actually, um, yeah, he's pretty great.

The last thing I really splurged on was ...
The ballerina shoes I have on right now. They have all these crystals on them, so when I'm walking, especially when I'm walking in Harlem, people are, like, "You're walking on diamonds, girl."

The sexiest I ever felt was ...
When my mom, who had an eye disease called chorioretinitis until I was 13, was finally able to clearly see me. She said, "Oh, my God, Quiana, you're beautiful!" I never realized she couldn't really see me until that moment.