'A' You're Adorable, 'B' You're...

No wonder every smart sunseeker knows his ABCs. Aruba is adorable. Bonaire is beautiful. Curaçao is a cutie full of charms. And together they constitute the southernmost islands of the Netherlands Antilles. Aruba, which lies 15 miles north of Venezuela, is the smallest of the three. Its eight miles of white sandy beaches, wave-washed cliffs and wind-sculptured rock formations make it one distinctive island. Bonaire is a scuba diver's paradise notable for coral-studded coves where visitors can drop in on a glorious array of fish. Curaçao features lively casinos and a bustling free port in addition to waters of turquoise hue. On the cover, Paulina welcomes the sun at Aruba's Colorado Point in a suit from Ellen Ann Dobrovir ($65). Below, Kelly Emberg admires a conch in Bonaire's Lac Bay. Her wrestler's suit and bandeau are from Everlast ($48). For more on Bonaire's submarine attractions, turn to page 106.

ARUBA
Natural Bridge, a coral arch carved by wind and sea, has waited an age for this moment. Paulina greets the dawn in her Monika Tilley suit for Elon ($40).

BONAIRE
Golden girl Kim Alexis is suitable for framing from any angle on the thatch-roofed dock at the Flamingo Beach Hotel. Her cotton and Lycra suit is by Ralph Lauren ($48).

BONAIRE
Overleaf: Kathy Ireland and Jean Pelton play footsie with the tide at Boca Cocolishi. Their sequined suits are made for sunning or swimming by Gottex ($100).

ARUBA
Carol Alt strikes a pose evocative of the Twenties in a high-tech Speedo cap ($8) and glamorous Gottex suit ($200).

BONAIRE
A laid-back Kelly fishes for compliments—and is sure to get them—in her Gottex maillot ($150).

CURACAO
Paulina scores a knockout with the island featherweight champ, Chucu Zimmerman (right) and his pals. The Mouse is by Disney, the suit by Nelbarden ($32).

BONAIRE
Kim and Kelly are armed for an assault on the crystal pyramids of the Antilles International Salt Company. Kim's sequined Lycra bikini ($150) and Kelly's rhinestone-studded one ($100) are from Gottex.

ARUBA
Caressed by wavelets on the coral-strewn shore of Mangel Halto Beach, Paulina is a sea serpent worth seeing in her Lycra suit with python print from Diva by Rachel Pappo ($58).

BONAIRE
That's no way to keep the wolf from the door of Cap'n Don's Habitat, Kathy. Sequin discs highlight her Monika Tilley suit for Elon ($82).

ARUBA
Carol has it made in the shade on a palmy day at the Holiday Inn Resort. Her silky Lycra suit is designed by Connie Banko ($46).

ARUBA
Paulina dreams the day away on the beach of the Divi Divi Hotel. Her Lycra maillot with rhinestone rings is from Giorgio Sant' Angelo ($58).

CURAÇAO
A young shopper is sold on Paulina, who takes a stand at Willemstad's floating market. Her cotton and Lycra suit is from Ste. Jan-Marie ($44).

BONAIRE
Discreetly camouflaged, Kelly goes bird-watching amid the towering cactus of the cunucu, the ancient Arawak name for countryside, in her Lycra suit by Christian Dior ($50).

BONAIRE
Kathy is perfectly suited for the isolated east coast beach and turbulent water off Playa Chikitu, in Washington National Park, in a lacy bikini by Keiko ($50).

BONAIRE
Kim comes up for a breather on the Flamingo hotel dock in an Everlast outfit ($73) that ought to keep the wimps away.

CURAÇAO
Paulina lights up the night in a Gottex suit ($200) under the illuminated arches of the Queen Emma pontoon bridge.

ARUBA
Carol enjoys the fringe benefits of her suede-trimmed Catalina Juniors suit ($40).

BONAIRE
Jean tops off her tan in the coral-studded bay of Nukove in a maillot by Rachel Pappo for Diva ($64).

BONAIRE
In her OMO suit by Norma Kamali ($90), Kim resembles a charmer from a James Bond flick. Divers at the Bonaire Beach Hotel stand by to show her the undersea sights.

TWENTY

PHOTOS

PAOLO

CURTO