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Babette March -

March was the first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue cover model, back on January 20, 1964.

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Marilyn Tindall -

Fast forward to the issue of January 16, 1967, and we have actress and model Marilyn Tindall on the cover. She's pictured here during a promo shoot for the movie 'The Silencers' (1966).

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Dayle Haddon -

You might recognize the face of the Canadian actress and model from L'Oréal ads. Haddon featured on the January 29, 1973 issue.

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Cheryl Tiegs -

American supermodel and actress Cheryl Tiegs was on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue twice. First on January 12, 1970, and then on January 27, 1975, making her the first repeat cover model ever.

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Christie Brinkley -

Supermodel Christie Brinkley also goes down in the history of the magazine as the first cover model to appear three times in a row. Brinkley featured on the following issues: February 5, 1979, February 2, 1980, and February 9, 1981.

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Paulina Porizkova -

The supermodel was 18 when she became the youngest Swimsuit Issue cover model. Paulina Porizkova was on the cover of the February 11, 1985 issue.

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Judith Mascó -

The Spanish model was pretty famous in the '90s. Judith Mascó appeared on the cover of the February 12, 1990 issue.

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Kathy Ireland, Rachel Hunter, and Elle Macpherson -

The magazine issue of February 14, 1994 was a pretty special edition. It featured Kathy Ireland and Rachel Hunter, who were pregnant at the time, and the Aussie supermodel Elle Macpherson, who made the cover for the fourth time.

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Daniela Peštová -

On February 20, 1995, you could find the Czech model on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

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Tyra Banks -

Not only was Tyra Banks the first African-American cover model, she also appeared three times on the cover of the magazine. Banks made the cover of the following issues: January 29, 1996, February 21, 1997, and, more recently, on May 13, 2019.

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Valeria Mazza -

The Argentine model also appeared on the same issue as Tyra Banks, on January 29, 1996.

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Heidi Klum -

On February 20, 1998, we could find Heidi Klum on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

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Rebecca Romijn -

The model and actress was chosen to feature on the cover of the February 12, 1999 edition of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

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Daniela Peštová and Elsa Benítez -

Here the Czech and Mexican models pose with copies of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues. Peštová was the cover model in 2000, and the following year it was Elsa Benitez's turn.

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Yamila Diaz-Rahi -

The Argentine model was selected to feature on the cover of the famous magazine on February 1, 2002.

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Petra Němcová -

On February 18, 2003, it was time for Czech model Petra Němcová to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

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Veronika Vařeková -

Sports Illustrated chose the Czech model and actress for its 40th anniversary issue on February 10, 2004.

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Carolyn Murphy -

The following year it was the American model who made the cover of the famous magazine issue, which came out on February 15, 2005.

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Rachel Hunter, Veronika Vařeková, Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Daniela Peštová, and Elsa Benítez -

All five models featured on the cover of the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. This was also the record fifth cover for Elle Macpherson (not pictured).

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Beyoncé -

On February 15, 2007, Beyoncé became the first non-model and non-athlete to make the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

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Marisa Miller -

The American model poses with a copy of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue released on February 12, 2008.

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Bar Refaeli -

On February 10, 2009, we could find the Israeli model on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

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Brooklyn Decker -

The following year, it was time for the American model to feature on the cover of the famous magazine.

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Irina Shayk -

The famous Russian model was on the cover of the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, launched on February 15, 2011.

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Chrissy Teigen, Nina Agdal, and Lily Aldridge -

Models Chrissy Teigen, Nina Agdal, and Lily Aldridge featured on the cover of the 50th anniversary edition of the issue, on February 18, 2014.

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Hannah Davis -

The American model was the chosen one for the cover of the 2015 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

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Ronda Rousey, Ashley Graham, and Hailey Clauson -

Launched on February 23, 2016, this was the first issue of the magazine with multiple front covers. MMA fighter Ronda Rousey, as well as models Ashley Graham and Hailey Clauson, all featured on the 2016 edition.

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Kate Upton -

Kate Upton became the first cover model with multiple front covers in 2017. She appeared on covers in 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2024.

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Danielle Herrington -

The American model was featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue that launched on February 18, 2018.

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Camille Kostek and Alex Morgan -

On May 13, 2019, we could find both model Camille Kostek and soccer star Alex Morgan on the cover of the famous magazine issue.

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Jasmine Sanders, Kate Bock, and Olivia Culpo -

Jasmine Sanders, Kate Bock, and Olivia Culpo featured on the cover of the 2020 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

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Leyna Bloom and Megan Thee Stallion -

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue of July 19, 2021 featured both the American actress and the famous rapper. Bloom (right) made history as SI's Swimsuit issue’s first transgender cover star.

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Ciara, Maye Musk, and Yumi Nu -

In 2022, singer Ciara, Maye Musk (mother of Elon Musk) and model Yumi Nu featured on the 59th edition of the issue.

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Kim Kardashian -

Kim Kardashian was also a cover star in 2022. "Kim, no stranger to the world’s judgment, continues to live proudly, authentically and unapologetically through the noise,” explained Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day.

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Padma Lakshmi -

Celebrity chef and former 'Top Chef' host Padma Lakshmi posed for the magazine's 2023 edition at the age of 52. 

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Megan Fox -

Actress Megan Fox also appeared in the 2023 issue. Her stunning cover shoot was accompanied by an interview in which she discussed her long-standing issues with body dysmorphia. “I don’t ever see myself the way other people see me. There’s never a point in my life where I loved my body, never ever," she revealed. 

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Kim Petras -

Pop superstar Kim Petras also graced the cover in 2023, making her the second trans woman in history to do so. " I had the best time and, honestly, it was a huge confidence boost," she told People of her experience. 

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Martha Stewart -

At 81 years of age, Martha Stewart became the oldest cover star in Sports Illustrated history in 2023. The celebrity chef told the magazine, “Age is not the determining factor in terms of friendship or in terms of success, but what people do, how people think, how people act, that’s what’s important and not your age.”

Source: (Sports Illustrated Swimsuit) (Newsweek)

See also: Actors you didn't know started out as models

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