The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has become an iconic annual publication since the first cover in 1964 featuring Babette March. Each year's issue always contains the usual bikini-optional women in exotic locations — looking confident, sexy, and sometimes even sporty.But this year, something new, exciting, and historic happened: SI released three different covers, each representing a different kind of body type, with each model as giddy to become a part of the long legacy of more than 50 SI cover stars. (That list includes Christie Brinkley, Beyoncé, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, and Chrissy Teigen, to name a few.)
Ashley Graham, who technically made an appearance in the issue last year (albeit, in a swimwear ad), is now on the cover as the first curvy girl to grace the glossy front of the magazine. Not since Banks' appearance on the cover in 1997 has SI made such a big, and long-awaited, change. Ronda Rousey, in her barely there body paint, is on another cover this year, and 20-year-old Hailey Clauson, who was Rookie of the Year in 2015, is on the third version.
The three cover stars represent a new age in modeling — one that includes plus-size runway shows, trans models walking for major labels, and supermodels like Gigi Hadid, who have refused suggestions to become stick-thin. Times are changing, and so are the shapes and sizes of the women who appear in SI's Swimsuit Issue.
At a VIP event in New York City at the Time, Inc. building, the next generation of models stopped to talk to Refinery29 about what being a part of this historic cover means to them.
“The covers represent power, sex appeal, and body. We are making history by the fact that Sports Ilustrated is, first of all, even putting me in the pages last year [in an advertisement], and then now putting me on the cover. I am just like, 'Oh my god, I cannot believe this is actually happening.' I know this is letting women know, who never felt beautiful enough, or who felt like they had too much cellulite or back fat, that they are beautiful."
— Ashley Graham, 28, SI cover model
"I am really happy about the cover. I think it is really amazing, because beauty comes in all sizes, and it is great to be able to show that."
— Rose Bertram, 21, second-time SI model
"Well, I did not expect that Sports illustrated was going to come out with three covers, it was a surprise. They told us, ‘Oh, we are calling three finalists,’ and we didn’t know if they were going to announce one, and then the other two were going to have to walk off the stage. That would be so mean. I thought, This is so Miss Universe. This is going to be so sad. But then they gave three covers, and it was so amazing.I couldn’t wish for more, honestly, with the athlete [Ronda] who is such an amazing role model, and Ashley who stands out for so many things for women, and then Hailey who is such a beauty."
— Tanya Mityushina, 23, rookie SI model
"No one knew who was on the cover, so everyone is kind of going, 'Is it her? Is it me?' It’s very emotional. It is very tense, and then you can kind of just enjoy the rest of it. When we were signing autographs yesterday, it was the first time I saw the magazine so I was like, ‘What page am I on? Let me see this!’"
— Kate Bock, 23, fourth-time SI model
"This historic issue was really different, and I really enjoyed it. It was memorable because this was my first time [modeling for Sports Illustrated], and that there were three covers [is] pretty awesome. Now I can have three copies hanging up, and say it’s for the three covers!"
— Barbara Palvin, 22, rookie SI model
"I grew up with the Sports Illustrated covers on my wall, and so the fact that I am with these girls and also part of such a groundbreaking issue makes it 10 times better. I think these covers are going to change the fashion world and how people look at beauty. But I also think it is going to change the world because women are going to look at this magazine and have inspiration. They will realize that they are beautiful, and that they don't have to fit into one standard of beauty. Because nobody fits one standard. We are all different. We all have a personality. That’s what i think every single girl in the issue represents."
— Hailey Clauson, 20, cover SI model
"It is awesome to have different body types on the cover. It is great for women in general to not just look up to one body type and to have everyone embrace their curves, their size, and their height no matter how they look, and feel beautiful. Whether you’re really slim or whether you’re a little bigger, everyone is beautiful in their own way."
— Caroline Wozniacki, 25, second-time SI model
"Having Ashley Graham on the cover this year is very special. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and I am all for body diversity."
— Chanel Iman, 25, third-time SI model
"Do I think this cover is going to be a big step forward? Yes. A million times so, yes. Even this outfit is Zana Bayne, and she just started including curvy girls in her runway line. I have always been supportive of SI, because they have included diversity. And the other designers that do it, too, I love. But there needs to be a LOT more."
— Robyn Lawley, 26, second-time SI model
"[Between this and Baywatch] I guess my fortay is swimwear, both on screen and on camera. I am thrilled to be part of both. They are both amazing brands, and platforms with amazing creative people and just a great thing to be a part of, especially with these covers."
— Kelly Rohrbach, 26, second-time SI model
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