Chill in Malibu
- Katherinne Rodriguez
- Aug 12
- 2 min read
There’s something electric about Malibu just before sunset. The light hits different — golden, soft, and cinematic.
It’s the kind of light that doesn’t just illuminate; it transforms.
That’s the magic Ben Horton and I set out to capture in this shoot, braving the icy Pacific waters to bring a vision to life.
Wrapped in only a sheer white cover-up and a daring metallic bikini, I stepped into the cold surf with the wind in my hair and the ocean’s rhythm guiding my every pose.
The energy of the Pacific is powerful — bold, untamed, and deeply feminine — and that’s exactly what we channeled.
The first part of the shoot featured a lightweight white cover-up, tied at the hips, flowing like sea foam around my legs.
Wet and translucent, it clung to my skin, turning into a second skin under the soft Malibu sun. Every movement — a stretch, a spin, a gaze over the shoulder — was a dance between fabric, light, and water.
As the sun dipped lower, I transitioned into a silver chainmail bikini.
This piece shimmered against my sun-kissed skin and contrasted beautifully with the blue tones of the crashing waves.
There was something primal and powerful about it — like armor made for a goddess of the sea.
The water was cold — sharp, biting, and exhilarating.
But that’s what made every image so alive.
I wasn’t just posing; I was feeling.
I let the moment carry me, surrendering to the elements.
With each splash, each gust of wind, I felt more connected to my body, the beach, the camera — and ultimately, to you, the viewer.
Ben Horton’s lens captured not just the physical, but the emotional textures of the shoot — the tension of the cold, the warmth of the light, and the fierceness of a woman unafraid to take up space, to own her power, to move with the tide instead of against it.
This shoot wasn’t just about fashion or beauty — it was a moment of liberation. Malibu offered its waves, wind, and wildness, and I offered my vulnerability and strength in return.