Klum is joining an illustrious club. Past H&M swimsuit models include Pamela Andersen (1995), Tyra Banks (1996), Helena Christensen (1998), Salma Hayek (1999) and Gisele Bundchen (2000). Last summer's swimwear ads starred a very bronzed Christy Turlington in a variety of scuba-themed shots.

The Klum campaign was shot on the beaches of the West Indies island of Virgin Gorda by legendary lensman Mario Sorrenti. In the ads, Klum cavorts in a range of H&M's under-$20 swimwear, sporting everything from batik prints to rainbow stripes, string bikinis to boy shorts.

The sexy, sandy ads will appear in all 14 countries where H&M has retail locations. In the U.S., they will be included in the June issues of Cosmo, Jane, Marie Claire, Elle, Lucky and more, and the campaign will be supported by in-store displays, billboards in the New York metro area, and on the H&M website (www.hm.com). Klum is also featured in H&M's summer in-store campaign, which kicks off May 9.

In other H&M news, the first Washington, D.C. branch of the trendy discount retailer will open its doors May 9 in The Shops at Georgetown Park. In an effort to get off to a good start with the area's many college students, the store will open exclusively to coeds on the night of May 8, complete with a DJ, giveaways and a raffle for two "H&M Clothing Scholarships," valued at $500. H&M plans to open a second DC location later this summer, in the old Woodward & Lothrop building downtown.