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IT’S the magazine that launched the careers of models such as Kate Upton and Chrissy Teigan.
And 60 years on from it’s launch, landing the cover of Sports Illustrated is now regarded as the ‘pinnacle of modelling success in America.’
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While Sports Illustrated launched in 1954 – 70 years ago today – the annual swimsuit issue was introduced a decade later and became the magazine’s most popular issue, selling a million copies at its peak.
The editor at the time Andre Laguerre came up with the idea to fill the pages during winter’s slower sporting calendar, and it was hugely successful – but it’s not been without its controversies.
From being dubbed soft-core porn to promoting plus-size nudity, we look back on the swimsuit issue’s 60-year-history as the magazine itself turns 70…
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‘Soft porn’ cover
The magazine has featured a whole host of supermodels on its cover, from Christie Brinkley to Tyra Banks and Elle Macpherson, who has been the publication’s star no less than five times.
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Three-time cover star Kate Upton even credited it for her professional success saying: “Sports Illustrated really launched my career and I have a lot to thank them for.”
However some critics have dubbed the shoots as ‘soft porn’.
There are far more scandalous pictures in the magazine if you open it up. It’s a girl in a bikini, and I think it’s empowering.”
Model Hannah Davis
In 2015 a raunchy shot of model Hannah Davis pulling her skimpy bikini bottoms down was labelled overly suggestive by critics.
US TV shows ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today were forced to censor the cover so they could show it on screen.
Hannah defended her cover, saying: “I think it’s empowering; I’ve been hearing it’s degrading.
“There’s controversy every year, so I think it’s kind of just silly that they’re making it out to be the big thing; I mean it’s the swimsuit issue.
“There are far more scandalous pictures in the magazine if you open it up. It’s a girl in a bikini, and I think it’s empowering.”
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Plus size criticism
In 2016, Ashley Graham made history as the first plus-size model on the Swimsuit Issue cover, followed by Yumi Nu in 2022 and Hunter McGrady earlier this year.
Even Ashley was surprised she’d been picked, telling People: “I thought Sports Illustrated was taking a risk by putting a girl my size in the pages.
“But putting me on the cover? They aren’t just breaking barriers; they are the standard now. This is beyond epic.”
Many championed the move for promoting body positivity, but not everyone in the industry was happy size-16 model Ashley had been picked, and some have criticised the magazine’s ‘woke’ agenda.
In a chat with Naomi Campbell for the British supermodel’s YouTube series in 2020, Ashley revealed: “There was another model who was so upset that I had gotten the cover.
“She said I was very large and that women my size should not be on the cover.”
Speaking about Ashley being featured, three-times cover star Cheryl Tiegs who first appeared on the cover in 1970, controversially claimed: “I don’t like that we’re talking about full-figured women because it’s glamorising them, because your waist should be smaller than 35 inches.
“Her face is beautiful but I don’t think it’s healthy in the long run.”
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‘This is embarrassing…Yikes’
Not all cover stars have proved popular with readers, and in 2022 Kim Kardashian’s cover — featuring the reality star looking sensational in a gold bikini — sparked backlash for not showcasing someone ‘more deserving.’
One reader wrote: “This is embarrassing.
“After all you’ve been working towards to show regular day-to-day women who are incredible . . . This is what you do? Yikes.”
Another person added:”I won’t be buying one this year. Thanks to Kim for saving me $10.”
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Sports Illustrated – A history
THE first cover star was German model Babette March in 1964.
Christie Brinkley featured in three consecutive years from 1979, the first model to do so.
Elle Macpherson earned her nickname ‘The Body’ after gracing the cover a record five times, first in 1986 and then again in 1987, 1988, 1994, and 2006.
In 1996, Tyra Banks became the first Black woman to cover the magazine.
Beyonce got the coveted spot in 2007, the singing superstar being the first non-model or non-athlete to do so.
In 2016 – the first Swimwear Issue with multiple covers – Ashley Graham became the first plus-size model on the front.
In 2021 Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka was the first black athlete cover model.
That same year, model and actress Leyna Bloom became the first out transgender cover star and Megan Thee Stallion became the first rapper to feature.
In 2023, Kim Petras became the second trans woman to appear on the cover.
At 81, US businesswoman Martha Stewart was the oldest cover star in 2023.
This year, Chrissy Teigen, Hunter McGrady, Kate Upton and Gayle King are gracing four separate covers for the magazine for the franchise’s 60th anniversary.
But despite the controversy, the magazine is still a great success.
In May 2023, the publication was widely praised for putting 81-year-old Martha Stewart on the cover.
She called the decision ‘historic’, posing in ten different swimsuits.
“When I heard that I was going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, I thought, “Oh, that’s pretty good, I’m going to be the oldest person I think ever on a cover of Sports Illustrated,” she said.
“And I don’t think about age very much, but I thought that this is kind of historic.”
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