The perfect swimsuit is a hot commodity – almost as hard to find as identical triplets, which only occur one out of every half a million births. Here, find this season’s exceptional suits; it’s a collection that offers sassy, sweet and high-energy options, just like the Graves sisters.
At first glance, it’s almost impossible tell each member of the sun-kissed trio apart, but spend 30 minutes with them and their distinctive personalities begin to shine through. Whitney, the oldest of the three by one minute, is clearly “the mom” of the group, while Lindsey is admittedly more shy, and Kristie is the self-professed tomboy.
To keep them straight as newborns, nurses placed the Fort Payne natives in separate wings of the hospital nursery, and then, at home, each sister donned a different color bracelet. As kids, the set of sisters may have tried to pull the occasional old switcheroo on a boyfriend or two, but never mom and dad – they know them too well.
When it came time to choose a college, the sibs never hesitated to attend the same school, room together and even select the same major. Hands down, the USA nursing students and former Jag cheerleaders all agree that the best thing about being triplets is their built-in friendship. “There is never a dull moment, ” Kristie says.
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Meet Kristie (The Athlete)
Clue that it’s you
I’m the shortest.
Your sisters’ best qualities
Whitney is super organized and a complete “clean freak, ” and Lindsey is a really sweet and caring person.
Biggest pet peeve
I hate losing at anything. I am really competitive.
Best physical attribute
Probably my eyes
Favorite food
Chocolate!! I am the baker of the house. I am always cooking some kind of cakes or brownies!
What is the most exciting thing about becoming a nurse?
I look forward to helping people improve their health. Just being able to help people makes me happy.
If you were to choose a college senior superlative for each of your sisters, what would they be?
Lindsey would be the Most Likely to Succeed; Whitney would probably be classified as Friendliest.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
There are many, especially family vacations to the beach, and going to the lake by our house where I learned how to water ski (which I love, by the way).
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Meet Whitney (The Ring Leader)
Clue that it’s you
My face is rounder.
Your sisters’ best qualities
Lindsey is the sweet one, and Kristie is always being funny and making us laugh.
Biggest pet peeve
I am very organized, so it would have to be when my sisters borrow my clothes and then don’t return them.
Best physical attribute
My eyes
Favorite song
“When I was your Man” by Bruno Mars
Favorite food
Anything Italian
If you were to choose a college senior superlative for each of your sisters, what would they be?
Kristie would be Funniest and Lindsey would be Most Likely to Succeed.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Going to the lake by our house and learning to ski or receiving our first horse for Christmas when we were 7 and learning how to ride.
What is the best thing about being a triplet? What is the worst thing?
The best thing is that you always have a friend and someone to hang out with. The worst is being asked a million times a day if we are triplets.
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Meet Lindsey (The Scholar)
Clue that it’s you
I have a longer face.
Your sisters’ best qualities
Whitney is always looking out for us. Kristie is always there to make us laugh.
Biggest pet peeve
Arriving late
Best physical attribute
I have the naturally straight hair so I really don’t have to do anything with it.
Favorite food
I love Italian.
Favorite song
“Highway Don’t Care” by Tim McGraw or “Stay” by Rihanna
Favorite movie
“Armageddon”
If you were to choose a college senior superlative for each of your sisters, what would they be?
Whitney’s would be Friendliest and Kristie’s would be Funniest.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
It would have to be family vacations to the beach.
ABOVE LEFT On Lindsey: Light pink and navy dot bandeau (BCBG Generation, H.L. Hood). Turquoise tank (Made, Daisy Couture). Royal blue and gold drop necklace (Private Gallery). On Kristie: Verdigris green printed suit (BCBG Generation, H.L. Hood). White tunic (Private Gallery). Coral tri-stone necklace (Private Gallery).
ABOVE RIGHT On Kristie: Coral striped nautical-inspired suit with pops of sea foam green (Daniel Cremieux, Dillard’s). On Lindsey: Lavender bikini (Badgley Mischka, H.L. Hood). Mint and white high-low top (Tea U Rose, Private Gallery). On Whitney: Turquoise stone-accented crochet suit (Daniel Cremieux, Dillard’s).
ABOVE On Whitney: Purple halter with crisscross back (Lucky Brand, Dillard’s). Blue and white surfboard (Blonde Johns Surf Shop). On Kristie: Sparkly, striped keyhole suit (Roxy, Adrenaline Surf & Skate). Tortoiseshell cuff (Private Gallery). On Lindsey: Sunset-hued bikini (Reef, Adrenaline Surf & Skate).
ABOVE LEFT On Lindsey: Blue floral bandeau (Seafolly, H.L. Hood). Pink necklace (Private Gallery). On Whitney: Pink and white striped monokini (Seafolly, Daisy Couture). White cut-offs (Tractor, Daisy Couture). Yellow flower bracelet (Private Gallery). On Kristie: Yellow ruffled bandeau (Seafolly, Daisy Couture). Coral gingham shorts (Roxy, Adrenaline Surf & Skate). Mint necklace, worn as a bracelet (Private Gallery). Tandem bike (Beach Bike Rentals).
ABOVE RIGHT On Whitney: Mint halter-style bikini (Gianni Bini, Dillard’s). Ivory and gold pendant necklace (Private Gallery).
ABOVE LEFT On Lindsey: Blue floral bandeau (Seafolly, H.L. Hood). Pink necklace (Private Gallery).
ABOVE RIGHT On Whitney: Mint halter-style bikini (Gianni Bini, Dillard's). On Lindsey: Royal blue ruffled bandeau (Gianni Bini, Dillard's). On Kristie: Gray seersucker bandeau (Gianni Bini, Dillard's) with neon yellow accents.
ABOVE On Whitney: Neon tribal print bikini (Gianni Bini, Dillard's). On Kristie: Turquoise bikini (Vitamin A, H.L. Hood). Tortoiseshell cuff (Private Gallery).
MODELS Kristie, Lindsey and Whitney Graves
MAKEUP BY Kristin Lynch
HAIR BY Karen Jackson and Deborah Davis for Reflexions Hair Salon
PHOTO AND PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE BY Richard McGill and Abbi-Storm McCann
LOCATION Gulf State Park
Resources
Adrenaline Surf & Skate • 328 Fairhope Ave. 990-0699.
CK Collection • 320 Fairhope Ave. 990-9001.
Daisy Couture • 266 S. McGregor Ave. 460-5995.
Dillard’s Bel Air • 3300 Bel Air Mall. 471-1551.
H.L. Hood • The Wharf, 4776 Main St., Suite 104, Orange Beach. 981-6046.
Private Gallery • Eastern Shore Centre, 30500 State Highway 181, Suite 220. 621-3767. 218 Fairhope Ave. 990-4555. San Roc Cay, 27267 Perdido Beach Blvd. Suite. 112. 981-8455.
Special Thanks
Beach Bike Rentals • 22989 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach. 968-1770.
Blonde Johns Surf Shop • 200 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores. 948-2182.
Gulf State Park • 20115 state Highway 135. Gulf Shores. 948-7275.
Reflexions Hair Salon • 25814 Canal Road, Orange Beach. 981-3539.
text by Mallory Boykin • photos by Adair Freeman
