The Best Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Covers of All Time

The Best Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Covers of All Time

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1964 Issue

  The first issue of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue actually debuted in 1955 and featured Betty di Bugnano in a one-piece swimsuit. The issue did not sell well and SI put their next issue on hold until 1964 when they debuted the first cover featuring a white bikini. The issue is credited with making the bikini a serious piece of apparel.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1975 Issue

  Model Cheryl Tiegs graced the cover in the 1975 issue. This was Cheryl's second of three covers (1970, 1975, 1983 and was shot in Cancun, Mexico.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1981 Issue

  Shot in Panama City, Florida by photographer John Zimmerman, Christie Brinkley is wearing an artfully tattered suit by Liz Bruce ($58) This cover was Christie's third and final cover.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1983 Issue

  Stunning in a white, lace, polyester-cotton-lycra suit by Monika Tilley for Elon ($58). This issue was shot in Jamaica  and featured women canoeing and riding horseback in bikini's.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1987 Issue

  Shot in the Dominican Republic, model Elle Macpherson tight blue one piece with rhinestone embellishments. This cover was Elle's second of three covers in a row (1986,1987,1988).

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1988 Issue

  Elle's third and final cover issues, Elle is featured in Thailand in a tight spandex one-peice. Elle looks absolutely stunning.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1989 Issue

  When model Kathy Ireland graced the 1989 cover of Sports Illustrated for their 25th Anniversary Issue, the model featured in a tiny yellow bandeau bikini could have never guessed that this issue would be the highest selling issue to date. 

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1994 Issue

  The 90's ushered in a new type of model and a new faces to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition but before SI could close that chapter, they featured iconic models Katy Ireland, Elle Macpherson and Rachel Hunter sitting poolside in the 1994 issue. Macpherson and Ireland were featured on multiple issues but this was Hunter's first and only cover.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Tyra Banks became the first African American supermodel to appear on the cover of Sport Illustrated.

  By: Sports Illustrated

• Tyra Banks appeared on the cover of Sport Illustrated again following her groundbreaking cover the year before.

  By: Sport's Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1998 Issue

  Supermodel Heidi Klum appears on the 1998 swimsuit issue wearing a black and white crocheted bathing suit with the title "Heidi Klum, stradles the equator."

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 1999 Issue

  Covergirl Rebecca Romijn-Stamos appears in a metallic, mesh bikini designed by Rachel Simon & Eve France Design ($800). The blonde bombshell is stunning in this barely-there bikini.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2003 Issue

  The 2000's meant more skin and smaller suits, the sexy 2003 cover featuring Petra NÄ›mcová was shot one year before NÄ›mcová suffered major injuries after the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Some of the best cover girls of all time appear on the 2000 Sports Illustrated edition.

  By: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2007 Issue

  Singer Beyonce became the first non-model and non-athelete to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated in their "music edition". 

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2008 Issue

  Supermodel Marisa Miller was featured in the "Barely Bikini's" issue in 2008. The model was photographed wearing a string bikini bottom and layered necklaces.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2009 Issue

  Bar Rafaeli appeared on the 2009 cover of Sports Illustrated becoming the first Israeli model to appear in the magazine, posing with rock band Aerosmith.

  Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2010 Issue

  Decker was chosen cover girl for the 2010 edition, shot on location in the Maldives islands. The blonde beauty labeled a

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2011 Issue

  Model Irena Shaykhlislamova from Russia appeared in SI from

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2012 Issue

  When Kate Upton appeared on the 2012 cover of Sports Illustrated she was 19-years-old.

• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2013 Issue

  Model Kate Upton surprised everyone when it was announced that she was the covergirl for 2013