Current:Home > ContactThe making of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue -InvestSmart Insights
The making of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
View
Date:2025-04-17 19:58:10
The iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, a staple on newsstands for six decades, marks its 60th anniversary with a special issue that breaks from tradition.
"I want the world to realize that Sports Illustrated has evolved into such a far more wide-reaching, powerful vehicle of change," said MJ Day, editor-in-chief.
The special anniversary of the SI Swimsuit Issue has seven new covers that feature different models, including Kate Upton, Chrissy Teigen and Hunter McGrady, who is making her debut as a cover star.
"This has been my dream forever," said McGrady. "I started with Sports Illustrated in 2016. You know, as a plus-size woman I'm all about representation, but my biggest messages were so much more than our body. Yes, this is me and my body on the cover of a magazine, but I'm so much more than that. It's exciting to finally be put on this huge platform in that way."
This cover marks Upton's fourth. She said that the magazine helped her career, but has also helped deliver an inspiring message to women.
"It is about taking our power back," Upton said. "It's about being confident in our body, no matter what you look like, and knowing that you deserve to be there, and your voice matters, and you can empower yourself by being confident. You can be everything. You can be smart, you can be beautiful, you can be confident."
The SI Swimsuit Issue was first launched in the winter 1964, and was first used to fill in the magazine's pages as hockey and basketball seasons came to an end. Over the years, the swimsuit issue was eagerly anticipated, primarily featuring models in swimwear.
Since then, the issue has transformed to include women from sports, news, and entertainment, representing different races, ages, and body types. From the magazine's first transgender cover model, Leyna Bloom, to Halima Aden, the first woman wearing a hijab. The swimsuit issue originated as a filler during the sports season lull but quickly became a cultural phenomenon.
Jule Campbell, the late SI editor, introduced the practice of printing models' names with their pictures, a game-changer that helped models like Christie Brinkley become household names.
"The Sports Illustrated cover is such a huge get. And you are introduced to the other half of the population, the men. And all of a sudden, I had a name. It's great for your career," said Brinkley.
For so many years, the magazine's cover stars for the swimsuit issue were White women. But model and actress Tyra Banks broke that barrier when she became the first Black woman to be on the cover of the swimsuit issue.
"That was, like, oh, my God, a big deal that reverberated around the entire globe," said Banks.
As the swimsuit issue evolved to become more inclusive, the magazine lost some readers. Even so, Day said the audience who stayed was the one the magazine wanted.
"I mean, listen, there's a lot of swimsuit photos in this issue. We're not short on swimsuits. But I really like the idea of having all these women come together in a way that was different for us for once. We're living our best life. We're not afraid and we're not embarrassed and no one's going to stop us," said Day.
This year's SI swimsuit issue also includes "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King, who not only photographed for the magazine, but is also on the cover.
"They told me I was going to be on the inside," King said as she saw the cover for the first time on "CBS Mornings."
King described how the photographer guided her on how to pose, from how to position your fingers to extending your toes. Despite such detailed instructions, she never imagined herself in that role.
"I mean, I just never saw myself this way. I still don't see myself this way," said King.
Analisa NovakAnalisa Novak is a content producer for CBS News and the Emmy-award-winning "CBS Mornings." Based in Chicago, she specializes in covering live events and exclusive interviews for the show. Beyond her media work, Analisa is a United States Army veteran and holds a master's degree in strategic communication from Quinnipiac University.
TwitterveryGood! (52949)
Related
- Sam Taylor
- Tickets to see Lionel Messi's MLS debut going for as much as $56,000
- Is Project Texas enough to save TikTok?
- Katy Perry Gives Update on Her Sobriety Pact With Orlando Bloom
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- How Much Did Ancient Land-Clearing Fires in New Zealand Affect the Climate?
- Wealthy Nations Continue to Finance Natural Gas for Developing Countries, Putting Climate Goals at Risk
- An Indigenous Group’s Objection to Geoengineering Spurs a Debate About Social Justice in Climate Science
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- She left her 2007 iPhone in its box for over a decade. It just sold for $63K
Ranking
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- The US Nuclear Weapons Program Left ‘a Horrible Legacy’ of Environmental Destruction and Death Across the Navajo Nation
- Tens of millions across U.S. continue to endure scorching temperatures: Everyone needs to take this heat seriously
- Titanic Submersible Passenger Shahzada Dawood Survived Horrifying Plane Incident 5 Years Ago With Wife
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- A Deadly Summer in the Pacific Northwest Augurs More Heat Waves, and More Deaths to Come
- OceanGate Believes All 5 People On Board Missing Titanic Sub Have Sadly Died
- Inside Clean Energy: Biden’s Oil Industry Comments Were Not a Political Misstep
Recommendation
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
To Flee, or to Stay Until the End and Be Swallowed by the Sea
Warming Trends: At COP26, a Rock Star Named Greta, and Threats to the Scottish Coast. Plus Carbon-Footprint Menus and Climate Art Galore
From Denial to Ambiguity: A New Study Charts the Trajectory of ExxonMobil’s Climate Messaging
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
How the cats of Dixfield, Maine came into a fortune — and almost lost it
Get a $64 Lululemon Tank for $19 and More Great Buys Starting at Just $9
You'd Never Guess This Chic & Affordable Summer Dress Was From Amazon— Here's Why 2,800+ Shoppers Love It