Sports Illustrated recently published every single cover of their famed swimsuit issue. The first edition was published in 1964 and happened almost by accident after the magazine was forced to create a cover during a slow sports period in the mid-1960s sporting calendar. What started off as filler has turned into an institution that rakes in huge money ($35 million in ad revenue), has had the world’s hottest women grace its covers and is regarded as making the bikini a widespread legitimate piece of apparel.
In honor of this, we bring you our picks for the Top 10 Hottest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Covers of all time...
#10 Babette March (1964)
This is the famed cover that started it all. The story goes that fashion reporter Jules Campell was sent “to go on a shoot to fill space, including the cover, with a beautiful model.” The magazine contained this cover and a 5 page spread. The rest is history.
#9 Christie Brinkley (1981)
Cover girl Christie Brinkley was the first model to grace consecutive issues of the magazine. She appeared on the cover in the years 1979, 1980 and 1981. This cover was shot on Captiva Island, Florida.
#8 Kathy Ireland (1989)
Kathy Ireland’s 1989 cover is the best selling swimsuit issue in the history of the magazine. That’s pretty nice for an issue that was celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary.
#7 All-star Past Cover Models (2006)
This issue re-unites some of the all-stars of past Swimsuit issues. The cover has the most models on the cover of any issue. Veronica Varekova, Elle Macpherson, Rebecca Romijn, Rachel Hunter, Daniela Pestova, Elsa Benitez, Carolyn Murphy, Yamila Diaz all stand shoulder to shoulder covering their breasts with their hands on a sandy white beach as if they have all been playing around with each other. It’s totally hot.
#6 Marisa Miller (2008)
Marisa Miller finally made the cover of this year’s issue after appearing in every issue since 2002. The funny thing about this issue is that it’s extremely similar to 2000’s issue with Daniela Pestova on the cover. You be the judge.
