Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2024 has unveiled four cover models – including Gayle King, who showed off her stunning swimsuit body when she made her debut on the cover of the magazine at the age of 69.
This year’s cover stars include veterans Kate Upton, Hunter McGrady and Chrissy Teigen.
Photographed in Mexico by Yu Tsai, acclaimed TV presenter Gayle flaunted her figure in a striped EVARAE one-piece swimsuit and matching cover-up.
She stood next to a brick wall, smiling from ear to ear as her scarf fell from her shoulder.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2024 has revealed four cover models – including Gayle King, 69, who showed off her stunning swimsuit as she made her debut on the cover of the magazine
This year’s cover stars are veterans Kate Upton (left) and Chrissy Teigen (right)
Hunter McGrady also graced the cover in a brown JMP The Label suit, complete with cutouts on the sides of her midriff.
Gayle chatted about the shoot with Drew Barrymore on this morning’s episode of CBS This Morning, and she admitted to the star that she “couldn’t believe” she had been asked to take part.
“I’m floating, I can’t believe it,” she said. “It’s just… I’m so honored to be in this class.”
When asked if she “ever thought she would be on the cover of SI Swimsuit,” Gayle admitted, “Never.” I never thought I would have a chance at something like this.
‘My grandmother said to me [when I was little], “Mother Nature wasn’t as kind to you as she was to other little girls. Maybe you should start wearing makeup.” I’ve never seen myself like that before.’
She added: “I know what I look like before I get into hair and makeup, so it’s hard for me to go from that to [the cover]. That’s something I have to deal with myself.’
Gayle praised the magazine for featuring women of different “races and ages,” as well as different “body types.”
She also revealed that she told the magazine’s editors that she “didn’t want to retouch” her photos, except for a few “dimples on her thighs.”
Additionally, she vowed that she didn’t “starve herself” or “do anything she doesn’t normally do” in preparation for the shoot.
Three other covers featured 23 ‘more legends’, all posing in beautiful dresses rather than swimsuits
Gayle chatted about the shoot with Drew Barrymore on this morning’s episode of CBS This Morning, and she admitted to the star that she “couldn’t believe” she was taking part
When asked if she “ever thought she would be on the cover of SI Swimsuit,” Gayle admitted, “Never.” I never thought I would have a chance at something like this.”
Gayle praised the magazine for featuring women of different “races and ages” as well as different “body types”
She also revealed that she told the magazine’s editors that she “didn’t want any retouching” on her photos, except for a few “dimples on her thighs.”
Chrissy, 38, opted for an orange Saint Laurent swimsuit for cover-up, posing in front of a pool and starring seductively at the camera; the extremely low-cut one-piece left plenty of full-screen space.
As for Hunter, 31, she wore a brown JMP The Label swimsuit, complete with cutouts on the sides of her midriff.
She paired it with a long, flowing ANTONINIAS scarf and raised her arms in the air, sending bits of fabric billowing in the wind around her.
“As a plus-size woman, I’m all about representation, but my biggest message is: We are so much more than our bodies,” she said on CBS This Morning as she reflected on the shoot.
“Yes, this is me and my body on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but I am so much more than that.
“It’s exciting to finally be put on this huge platform like that. Sexy is not an age, sexy is not a size.’
Kate, 31, looked flawless in a red and pink Normaillot bikini as she stood with her arms above her head.
‘It’s about being confident in your body, no matter what you look like. Your voice is important. You can empower yourself by being confident,” she added during an appearance on the show this morning.
Three other covers featured 23 “more legends,” including Brenna Huckaby, Brooklyn Decker, Brooks Nader, Camille Kostek, Christie Brinkley, Danielle Herrington, Hailey Clauson, Halima Aden, Jasmine Sanders, Kate Love, Leyna Bloom, Lily Aldridge, Martha Stewart , Maye Musk, Megan Rapinoe, Molly Sims, Nina Agdal, Paige Spiranac, Paulina Porizkova, Roshumba Williams, Sue Bird, Tyra Banks and Winnie Harlow – all of whom posed in beautiful dresses instead of swimsuits.
“As a plus-size woman, I’m all about representation, but my biggest message is: we are so much more than our bodies,” Hunter said on CBS This Morning as he reflected on the shoot
‘It’s about being confident in your body, no matter what you look like. Your voice is important. You can empower yourself by being confident,” Kate added
SI Swimsuit Editor-in-Chief MJ Day explained on CBS Mornings, “Listen, there are a lot of swimsuit pictures in this issue. We have no shortage of swimwear, but I like the idea of bringing all these women together in a way that was different for us.
“I want the world to realize that Sports Illustrated has evolved into a much broader-reaching, powerful vehicle for change.”
MJ added in a statement that she wanted to pull out all the stops for this year’s covers as the magazine celebrates 60 years.
‘A 60th anniversary is a big deal. It may not be as richly recognized as the number 50, but we felt we should also celebrate 60 with all our hearts, for a simple reason: because the journey we have been on over the past ten years is something we consider humbly as a revolutionary,” she explained.
‘We have broken stereotypes. We have embraced diversity. We have promoted inclusivity.
“With each passing year, we have challenged ourselves to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.”