Seahawks, Northwest USO campaign features model, Soldier

SEATTLE, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks NFL team and the USO Northwest's 'Salute to Service' campaign features Army Sgt. 1st Class Joannie Bonilla, a former Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion soldier, as a model. The joint Seahawks and USO photo shoot took place November, 2015.

The Seahawks assistant director of fans development approached Bonilla at the Washington State Fair and asked her if she'd like to participate in the program. Bonilla accepted because she said she thought it might let other Army females see a different side of recruiting.

It's not only wearing the uniform, Bonilla said. "You can also model and be pretty in recruiting," she said.

This was the second year that the Seahawks and the USO Northwest partnered together during the month of November. During the event, Seahawks military-themed merchandise is sold to help raise funds and awareness for the USO, according to Suzanne Lavender, Seattle Seahawks director of communications.

"The Seahawks have partnered with USO Northwest throughout the month of November to help raise awareness about their activities, expansion project of the USO facilities at Sea-Tac Airport and as part of the league-wide military appreciation activities around Veterans Day," said Lavender. "This is also the second year the team's retail locations have offered a variety "Salute to Service" merchandise with a pledge to donate 10% of the sales to USO Northwest," she said.

This wasn't the first time Bonilla has been in front of a camera as a model.

I modeled in New York in high school before I joined the Army, Bonilla said. "Modeling has always been part-time, or that thing that you like to do," she said. "The Army is different; it's challenging."

The campaign raised more than 30-thousand dollars for the USO Northwest.