Shreveport Native, Model Ariel Meredith is our Woman Crush Wednesday

With striking beauty and undeniable grace, it's a no-brainer that this gorgeous gal from the SBC wears our Woman Crush Wednesday crown.

Ariel Meredith was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1986 to David and Marjorie Meredith. Although active in school, serving as senior class parliamentarian and senior senator on the student council at Huntington High School, Meredith still found time to do some modeling as a part time gig.

She was discovered at the age of 14, but did not pursue modeling as a career until after she finished school in 2008. She took home the title at a 500-contestant modeling competition in Dallas. She signed with Ford Models shortly after, along with Campbell Modeling Agency. The competition opened plenty of doors for her as she received 32 call-backs.

As a teen, Meredith appeared in Teen, Seventeen, Teen Cosmopolitan, and Cosmopolitan magazines. She insisted on keeping her modeling as a part time job, allowing herself to only travel domestically while in school. Opportunities came more regularly beginning in 2005.

Meredith made her debut with Vera Wang as a part of her Spring Show in New York in September 2008. With this show, it was time to pursue modeling full time. She appeared in shows for 11 fashion designers while in New York. Meredith then set off for Milan where she did eight shows, all in the month of September. Her list of designers included Baby Phat, Brioni, Clips, Diesel, D&G, Eli Saab, Junya Watanabe, La Perla, Milly and more.

The following year she found herself featured in the 2009 Spring/Summer Dolce & Gabbana advertising campaign, with more designers knocking at her door. This time it was J. Crew, Ann Taylor Loft, H&M, David's Bridal, Cover Girl, Fossil, Target, Garnier Fructis, Nine West, Roca Wear, Victoria's Secret, The Limited, Sephora, Levi's and Gap.

As of 2014, Meredith is represented by Supreme Management. She has consistently been featured in many Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues. You can find her in the years 2009, 2012, 2013 and this year's 50th anniversary issue. These shoots have taken her to some beautiful, vacation-eqsue locations. In 2009 the magazine shot the issue near Tulum, Mexico on the Mayan Riviera.

Her personal life has been kept fairly under wraps however, it has been reported she is dating Indianapolis Colts' Hakeem Nicks. Nicks was most recently a free agent with the New York Giants. It is not clear how long the two have been together. They first stepped out publicly together in February when they attended the SI Swimsuit 50th anniversary party together.

Although she lives in New York, Meredith is very family oriented and visits her hometown of Shreveport several times a year. It's hard to believe a big time celebrity remembers us little people, but look at this tweet from over the holidays.