Yumi Nu, born Olivia Yumi Nootenboom on September 23, 1996, is an American model and singer-songwriter from Englewood, New Jersey. She made history in 2022 as the first plus-size model of Asian descent to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Her career spans both the fashion world and the music industry, with appearances in Vogue, four Sports Illustrated Swimsuit features, and the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Who is Yumi Nu?
Yumi Nu is an American model, singer, and songwriter who built her career by challenging the narrow beauty standards of the fashion industry.
Born to a Japanese mother and a Dutch father, she grew up navigating two cultures while also facing racism and body-shaming from an early age.
She signed with Wilhelmina Models in Los Angeles and The Society Management in New York. Her modeling career officially began in 2010 when she was just 14 years old.
Alongside modeling, Nu pursues music as a serious creative outlet. She signed with Dim Mak Records, the label owned by her uncle, DJ Steve Aoki, and has released multiple extended plays.
Her grandfather was Rocky Aoki, the founder of the Benihana restaurant chain. Her aunt is actress and model Devon Aoki, and her uncle is world-famous DJ Steve Aoki.
Nu comes from one of the most recognizable families in entertainment and hospitality. She currently resides in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.
Early Life of Yumi Nu
Yumi Nu grew up in a creative and well-connected family that shaped her path into the arts. Her mother, Kana Grace Nootenboom, worked as a model and introduced young Yumi to the industry by bringing her to photo shoots as an infant.
Her father, Brent Nootenboom, is of Dutch descent, while her mother is the daughter of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki. This mixed heritage gave Nu a bicultural upbringing that would later become a key part of her public identity.
Her family relocated from Englewood, New Jersey to Maryland when she was seven years old.
In Maryland, Nu found herself as one of only two Asian-American students in her school. She has spoken openly about facing racial slurs and bullying during those years.
At 14, her family moved again, this time to Newport Beach, California. That same year, she began her formal modeling career.
Her younger sister, Natalie Nootenboom, also pursued a career in modeling. The two sisters share a family background that blends Japanese and Dutch roots with a strong tie to American culture.
Yumi Nu Age
Yumi Nu is 29 years old as of 2026, born on September 23, 1996. Her zodiac sign is Libra.
She launched her modeling career at 14 and released her first EP at 22, achieving major milestones at a relatively young age.
Yumi Nu Ethnicity and Nationality
Yumi Nu is American by nationality, born and raised in the United States. Her ethnic background is Japanese and Dutch, reflecting her mother’s Japanese heritage and her father’s Dutch descent.
This bicultural identity has played a central role in her advocacy for Asian-American representation in fashion and media.
Yumi Nu Height and Weight
Yumi Nu stands 5 feet 11 inches tall, which equals approximately 1.80 meters. Her weight is listed at around 110 kg, or approximately 242 pounds.
Her tall, curvy frame has become a defining part of her modeling brand, with Nu speaking publicly about the industry’s limited options for plus-size models above or below the standard sample size.
Yumi Nu Musical Style and Influences
Nu began writing songs at the age of 12, years before she gained widespread recognition as a model. Her musical style draws from alternative R&B and indie influences, and her lyrics often explore themes of identity, racial experience, and emotional vulnerability.
She has cited personal experience as the core of her songwriting. Songs like “Pots and Pans” reflect her journey of self-acceptance and resilience in an industry that rarely celebrated her look.
Her uncle Steve Aoki’s influence on her musical path is also significant. Signing to his Dim Mak Records label gave her direct access to a professional recording environment early in her music career.
Yumi Nu Education
Specific details about Yumi Nu’s formal education beyond high school are not publicly confirmed. During her school years in Maryland, she attended a school where she was one of very few Asian-American students, an experience she has discussed in interviews as one that shaped her understanding of race and belonging.
After her family moved to Newport Beach, California when she was 14, she continued her schooling locally while also beginning her modeling career during the same period.
Yumi Nu Career
Early Career
Yumi Nu started modeling professionally in 2010 at the age of 14, signing with Wilhelmina Models in Los Angeles. Her early work took her through casting calls and smaller campaigns as she navigated an industry that rarely accommodated her body type.
She faced criticism in those early years for her size. Despite that, she continued pushing forward, building her portfolio and professional relationships. Her mother’s background in modeling provided guidance and early exposure to the industry’s demands.
By her late teens, she had begun writing music seriously alongside modeling. At 12, she had already started composing songs as a personal outlet. That creative drive continued as she grew older and prepared to release original material.
Breakthrough
In 2021, Nu appeared in both the American and Japanese editions of Vogue magazine, a significant milestone for a plus-size model of Asian descent.
That same year, she was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and named the 2021 Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Asian curve model to receive that recognition from the publication.
Her first SI Swimsuit shoot took place in Tampa, Florida, photographed by Yu Tsai.
In 2022, she reached a new peak. Nu was selected as one of four cover models for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue published in July of that year, appearing alongside Ciara, Maye Musk, and Kim Kardashian. She became the first plus-size model of Asian-American descent to appear on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover.
When the news was revealed at the cover launch party in New York City on May 11, 2022, Nu described the moment as overwhelming.
In May 2022, the White House invited her to attend a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Recent Work
Nu continued her Sports Illustrated relationship with features in 2023, photographed in Dominica, and in 2024, photographed in Belize. She went on to appear in high-profile campaigns for brands including H&M and Victoria’s Secret.
In October 2025, Yumi Nu made her debut walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, held at Steiner Studios in New York City on October 15. She joined a lineup that included Adriana Lima, Bella Hadid, Joan Smalls, and Anok Yai.
Her runway debut at Victoria’s Secret was a moment she had long worked toward. In an exclusive Q&A with Victoria’s Secret ahead of the show, she described the feeling as one she had “written down so many times.”
She also built a business outside of modeling. In October 2022, Nu launched Blueki, a size-inclusive knitwear brand designed for all body types.
The line focuses on ethically sourced, high-quality, and timeless garments. Blueki grew from her own frustration with the lack of fashionable options for mid- and plus-size women.
Yumi Nu Discography
Nu released her debut single in 2016. Her first extended play arrived in June 2019 on Dim Mak Records. In 2022, she released her second EP, Hajime, a Japanese word meaning “beginning,” which reflected a rebranding of her alt-R&B and indie sound.
Her known singles include Sandcastles, Find You, Illusions, Bouquets, Careless, With You With Me, Hearts Ain’t Gonna Lie, Gully, and Pots and Pans.
Yumi Nu Awards and Recognition
Yumi Nu was named 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie of the Year, the first Asian curve model to earn that title from the publication.
Her 2022 cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue was widely reported as a historic milestone for Asian-American representation in mainstream fashion media.
In May 2022, the White House recognized her influence by inviting her to its celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Her debut at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show added another major industry recognition to her career.
Yumi Nu Fiancé
Yumi Nu announced her engagement to longtime partner Dimitri Dinas on September 26, 2025, just days after her 29th birthday.
She shared the news on Instagram with a carousel post that opened with a playful video of her dining, with a custom diamond ring visible on her finger.
The ring was designed by AERIGO Custom, featuring a bold, wavy band with an organic shape. Nu captioned the post, “all of a sudden I’m left handed.”
The two had been together for six years at the time of the engagement announcement. Dinas confirmed the news on his own Instagram account the same day. No public wedding date has been announced as of August 2026.
Yumi Nu Net Worth
Yumi Nu’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her income comes primarily from her modeling career, with long-running relationships with Sports Illustrated, Vogue, and brands like H&M and Victoria’s Secret.
She is represented by two major agencies, The Society Management in New York and Wilhelmina Models in Los Angeles, both of which contribute to a steady stream of commercial and editorial work. Her music releases on Dim Mak Records add another income stream through royalties and licensing.
Her clothing brand Blueki, launched in 2022, serves as a business venture and a growing revenue source separate from her modeling and music work.
Yumi Nu Social Media
Yumi Nu is active on Instagram under the handle @_yumi_nu, where she posts modeling content, personal updates, and advocacy-related material.
She launched her self-titled YouTube channel on July 7, 2020, using it for vlogs, beauty tutorials, and music videos.
Her first Instagram post appeared on September 21, 2017. Her social presence has grown steadily in connection with her Sports Illustrated career and her public advocacy for body positivity and Asian-American representation.
The Bottom Line
Yumi Nu made history in 2022 when she became the first plus-size model of Asian-American descent to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. That milestone followed her 2021 Rookie of the Year title from the same publication, marking two consecutive breakthrough years in fashion.
Her Japanese and Dutch background, combined with childhood experiences of racial bullying, shaped the advocacy work she carries into her public platform. She has spoken at the White House on behalf of Asian-American and Pacific Islander representation and launched Blueki to fill a real gap in size-inclusive fashion.
In October 2025, she walked the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway for the first time and announced her engagement to Dimitri Dinas. We hope you enjoyed reading about Yumi. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!