Alix Earle has had a whirlwind year, going from placing second on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" to attending exclusive events as she continues on a swift trajectory to becoming a pop culture household name. Now she's adding the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover to her growing repertoire of A-Lister credentials.

But the 25-year-old hasn't gotten to where she is today without a seemingly endless amount of perseverance as evidenced by her ability to overcome obstacles under the scrutiny of the spotlight.

Jul 12, 2023: Alix Earle arrives with Braxton Berrios on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In December, the social media personality made headlines for two very different reasons.…