CNN
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Martha Stewart. Christie Brinkley. Tyra Banks.
These are simply three of the fashions who’ve graced the duvet of Sports activities Illustrated’s well-known — and at occasions controversial — “Swimsuit Version.” Now, to have a good time the particular challenge’s sixtieth 12 months in print, the journal has unveiled seven new covers that includes 27 girls and reuniting previous cowl fashions for a “Legends” photograph shoot.
Kate Upton, Chrissy Teigen, plus-size mannequin Hunter McGrady, and CBS Information host Gayle King all posed for their very own solo covers. (This marks the fourth time Upton has appeared on the journal’s cowl, and the second time for Teigen.)
The remaining three “Legends” covers function alumni together with Chanel Iman, Maye Musk, Megan Rapinoe and Winnie Harlow, amongst others, in addition to snowboarder (and gold medal-winning Paralympian) Brenna Huckaby, the primary amputee mannequin to look within the “Swimsuit Version” and Halima Aden, the primary hijabi mannequin.
In a information launch, Sports activities Illustrated editor-in-chief MJ Day mentioned that the “Swimsuit Version” has “transcended its origins.”
What “started as a mere diversion within the winter months when the sports activities calendar was comparatively empty” is now “a world image of empowerment, range and positivity.”
“We’ve finished our greatest to honor girls of all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds,” mentioned Day. “We’ve strived to reshape societal norms and redefine the requirements of magnificence. This 12 months’s challenge does simply that.”
Sports activities Illustrated debuted its first-ever “Swimsuit Version” began in 1963, with a younger German model named Babette March on the duvet, pictured frolicking on a seaside in Mexico in a white bikini.
Since then, the yearly particular challenge has change into a mainstay. It has at occasions attracted criticism due to its focus on women’s bodies.
Over the previous few years, the journal has included a extra numerous vary of vogue fashions in its pages, together with trans models Leyna Bloom and Valentina Sampaio (in addition to the trans singer Kim Petras), older fashions like Musk, and plus-size fashions like Ashley Graham and McGrady. The journal has additionally expanded its portfolio of canopy stars to function musicians, athletes and celebrities like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Osaka and Megan Thee Stallion.
“With every passing 12 months, we’ve challenged ourselves to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be Sports activities Illustrated Swimsuit,” mentioned Day within the information launch.
“Whereas this 12 months’s challenge is a tribute to the latest previous, it’s additionally a reminder of the work we should proceed to do. We should remind girls to problem the established order, to have a good time power and confidence, and to encourage these round us to embrace their uniqueness and pursue their passions fearlessly.”