Model-turned-actress Meredith Mickelson is having a major moment. The rising star, who boasts 3.4 million Instagram followers, makes her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut this year as a Rookie—joining a powerhouse lineup that includes Alix Earle, Achieng Aguta, Haley Kalil and Camille Kostek.
But Mickelson’s star power extends well beyond the pages of SI. Fresh off her appearance in Ryan Murphy’s buzzy FX series The Beauty, she’s set to appear in the third season of Euphoria and has a role lined up in the second season of Taylor Sheridan’s acclaimed The Madison—a crossover trajectory that few models have managed to pull off with such momentum.
With long days now spent on film sets rather than just runways, beauty has become both her armor and her ritual. Here, she shares the skin-care secrets, makeup must-haves and wellness habits that keep her camera-ready—no matter which lens is on her.
Congratulations on your Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie debut—how did you prep for the shoot?
“Thank you so much! It truly was a dream come true. I’m still pinching myself! Honestly, I didn’t completely change my routine; I just made it consistent and intentional. I’m obsessed with jumping rope, so I did it about five or six days a week for 30–45 minutes. It’s one of my favorite ways to stay lean and feel energized. I also added in boxing and weight training with my trainer, plus a lot of uphill walking to build a bit more muscle and definition.
Leading up to the shoot, I focused a lot on skin, too. I was doing face masks constantly to really get that glow, and lymphatic drainage massages were a must—they make such a difference in how everything looks and feels. It was really about feeling strong, confident and taking care of myself in a way that felt sustainable and not extreme.”
As someone who has transitioned from modeling to acting, how has your skin-care routine changed to meet the long days on set?
“I’ve always been obsessed with taking care of my skin, especially because I struggle with breakouts. Being in front of the camera from a younger age kind of wired that into me early; it’s always been important.
However, transitioning into acting, with longer days, heavier makeup and more time on set, made me more disciplined about it. The biggest thing for me is consistency. I take my makeup off the second I get home, no matter how tired I am, and I really focus on keeping my skin clean and hydrated.
I’ve also learned not to overdo it. When your skin is constantly being worked on, less is more! So I stick to what I know works, keep it simple and really prioritize moisture. I basically just lather myself in face lotion and let my skin reset overnight.”
What are the regular products you rely on?
“Face Wash: La Roche-Posay & Sulwhasoo
Face lotion: Weleda, La Mer, Tatcha
Depuffing: Therabody Depuffing Wand
Refresh: Caudalíe Rose Water Spray
SPF: Beauty of Joseon
Glow: Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Skin Health: Biologique Recherche Serum ISO Placenta
I switch between these sometimes, depending on whether I need heavier or lighter products. Though when I shot SI recently, I left my face products in the airport hotel and heartbreakingly had to use hand soap for the rest of the trip.”
After hours in glam, what’s your routine for resetting and repairing your skin?
“Immediately, Augustinus Bader Face Mask or Biodance Bio-Collagen Face Mask. Let it sit for hours. Apply my Caudaíle serum, then use my Therabody Depuffing Wand—it is a lifesaver. Then, water and sleep!”
What is the best way to unwind after a day on set, be that acting or modeling?
“Honestly, a really good meal and a movie. There’s something about sitting down to an amazing dinner, whether we’re ordering in—Goop, pizza, Erewhon—or going out, then just fully switching off with a great film or a good reality TV show. I also must shower the second I walk in the door. It’s very important to me to always smell extra amazing even if I’m sleeping, so after my shower and do my skin care, I spray a little YSL on me!”
When it comes to body care and feeling swim-ready, what treatments make the biggest difference for you?
“It comes back to the basics for me—water and electrolytes, moving my body consistently and protecting my sleep. I feel like those three things are the real foundation. When I’m doing all of those well, everything else just falls into place.”
What would you say is more creatively stimulating, acting or modeling?
“They’re both creative, just in different ways. Modeling is about embodying. You’re stepping into a mood, a character, a feeling. When you’re shooting, you translate it through your body, your face, your energy. It’s intuitive, physical and reactive…almost like a canvas that shifts depending on the team, the styling and the photographer.
Acting, though, asks more of you internally. It’s not just ‘what does this look like,’ it’s ‘why does this person feel this way, what’s underneath, what are they hiding, what do they want?’ You’re building a full human from the inside out. It takes more time, more vulnerability, more imagination and more emotional risk.
So…both are creative, but acting stretches you in a deeper way personally. Modeling is expression; acting is transformation.”
You’ve been working on exciting projects like The Madison season 2 and The Beauty. Did either of those shows influence your perspective on skin care or beauty in any way?
“In general, being on set constantly, under intense lighting, heavy makeup, long hours…you realize really quickly that more isn’t better. If anything, it made me simplify everything. My skin started reacting when I was overloading it, so I became way more focused on keeping it calm, clean and consistent leading up to filming—rather than chasing trends or trying a million products. The makeup teams on the shows were also super gentle and light on my skin, which I really appreciated.
The Beauty, specifically, made me think about beauty in a bigger way. When you’re playing a character that’s so heightened, so focused on perfection in her looks, it really puts things in perspective. It forces you to separate how you look from how you feel. I started caring a lot more about how my skin feels—healthy, balanced, strong—rather than it looking ‘perfect’ all the time, so I could show up to set confident in whatever makeup I put on.
It also made me way more aware of how much confidence comes from within. You can be fully done up on camera, but if you don’t feel grounded or good in yourself, it shows. So now my ‘beauty routine’ is honestly as much about sleep, hydration and mental space as it is skin care.”
You also appear in Euphoria! Drop the beauty notes!
“I did my own makeup for my scenes, which felt special. I wanted to keep it light—we were shooting from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m., so I was fully delirious by the end—but it was really about staying moisturized and glowy, having fun with it without weighing my skin down. My whole approach was touching up when needed rather than layering too much at once.”
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