Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

It’s hard to believe that what began as a small insert in the February 1964 issue of Sports Illustrated is now a powerhouse edition of the magazine; not only jump-starting the careers of the models who appear on its pages but also reportedly generating more than a billion dollars in revenue since it began. With this annual must-have making its way into so many homes, we've rounded up 19 facts about the sexy women that have graced its pages.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

The Swimsuit Issue got racy in 1999, when California's Rebecca Romijn (then still Stamos) posed alongside six models in nothing but body paint, starting the craze of airbrushed-on faux clothing. Romijn went on to star as Mystique in the X-Men films, in which she wears nothing but body paint.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

In 1984, an 18-year-old Paulina Porizkova made headlines for being the youngest model to make the cover of the Swimsuit Issue.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

In 1978, a racy shot of Cheryl Tiegs in a nearly see-thrugh bikini made its way into the magazine's pages, resulting in over 300 subscription cancellations.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

Kathy Ireland appeared on the cover of the Swimsuit issue's 25th-anniversary edition in 1989, resulting in the highest-selling issue ever to date.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

In 2007, singer Beyoncé Knowles was the first non-model to appear on the SI cover.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

Thanks to the 1998 issue's equator theme, Heidi Klum (plus photographers and the entire production team) traveled to the Maldives, Kenya, Indonesia, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands to get perfect shots for the magazine.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

In 1996, Tyra Banks was the first African-American model featured on the issue's cover, alongside Argentinean model Valeria Mazza. Banks appeared on the cover solo the following year.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

After becoming the new face of lingerie brand Intimissimi at the age of 19, Russian model Irina Shayk made her SI debut on the 2011 cover.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

As an SI swimsuit model from 2005–11, Anne Vyalitsyna holds the record for most consecutive appearances in the magazine at a whopping seven!

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

Brooklyn Decker, cover girl in 2010, became one of 24 blondes to win the coveted spot. To date, there have only been 20 brunette cover models and zero redheads, although redheaded beauty, Cintia Dicker has graced the pages many times.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

As the 2008 cover girl, Marisa Miller was the face of the first Swimsuit Issue that SI released online.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

The first group shot (featuring Hunter, Ireland and Macpherson) may have been in 1994, but 2006's cover featured an all-star cast of Veronica Varekova, Elle Macpherson, Rebecca Romijn, Rachel Hunter, Daniela Pestova, Elsa Benitez, Carolyn Murphy and Yamila Diaz-Rahi.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

In 2007, Israeli model Bar Refaeli graced the pages of the Swimsuit Issue. Fact: This was the first year the Chinese government allowed the magazine to be sold in that country. Fiction (or at least a popular rumor at the time): Refaeli's then-new boyfriend, Leonardo DiCaprio, arranged the photo shoot to make his ex Gisele Bundchen jealous.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

Elle Macpherson dominated SI of the 80s with appearances on three consecutive covers—1986, 87 and 88.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

Only a handful of female athletes have appeared in the Swimsuit Issue, including tennis players Steffi Graf and Venus and Serena Williams. In 2006, 6'2 Russian powerhouse Maria Sharapova was featured on the issue's cover inset.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

When Molly Sims appeared in the 2006 issue, she wore a bikini reportedly made of more than $30 million in diamonds.

http://static1.glo.com/photos/Original/84504_Original.jpg
Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

SI is trying something new with its 2012 issue—incorporating 17 emerging bands into its digital platforms, where one song will be paired with one particular model.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

For the 1979 cover of SI, Christie Brinkley and crew traveled to the beautiful islands of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Brinkley went back for more, and was featured on the covers of the 1980 and '81 issues as well.

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

In 1994, cover stars Rachel Hunter and Kathy Ireland were both pregnant at the time of their photo shoot. Elle Macpherson was also featured on the cover, although she was not expecting. NEXT GALLERY: The Fresh Faces of Sports Illustrated 2012

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- Save to Scrabook
Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

2/9: Know It All: Sports Illustrated's Most Seminal Moments

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Tyra Banks: Russell James/Contour By Getty Images
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Rebecca Romijn: Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
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Paulina Porizkova: Brian Lanker/Contour By Getty Images
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Cheryl Teigs: Kourken Pakchanian/Contour By Getty Images
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Kathy Ireland: Charles W. Bush/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
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Beyonce Knowles: J.Sciulli/WireImage for Bragman Nyman Cafarelli
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Heidi Klum: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
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Tyra Banks: Russell James/Contour By Getty Images
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Irina Shayk:G Tres / Splash News
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Anne V.: Pichichi / Splash News
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Brooklyn Decker: Will Binns/PacificCoastNews.com
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Marisa Miller: Splash News
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Yamila Diaz Rahi: Splash News
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Bar Rafaeli: bauergriffinonline.com
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Elle Macpherson: BEN MCDONALD/bauergriffinonline.com
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Maria Sharapova: Aaron St-Clair / Splash News
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Molly Sims: Bret Thompsett/PacificCoastNews.com
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Kate Upton: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
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Christie Brinkley: Fotos International/Getty Images
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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* When using Facebook Connect your image and name may display on Glo. All privacy settings are controlled by Facebook.
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Skin Is In

1 of 20
It’s hard to believe that what began as a small insert in the February 1964 issue of Sports Illustrated is now a powerhouse edition of the magazine; not only jump-starting the careers of the models who appear on its pages but also reportedly generating more than a billion dollars in revenue since it began. With this annual must-have making its way into so many homes, we've rounded up 19 facts about the sexy women that have graced its pages.
Birthday Suit

2 of 20
The Swimsuit Issue got racy in 1999, when California's Rebecca Romijn (then still Stamos) posed alongside six models in nothing but body paint, starting the craze of airbrushed-on faux clothing. Romijn went on to star as Mystique in the X-Men films, in which she wears nothing but body paint.
Czech Mate

3 of 20
In 1984, an 18-year-old Paulina Porizkova made headlines for being the youngest model to make the cover of the Swimsuit Issue.
Swimsuit Scandal

4 of 20
In 1978, a racy shot of Cheryl Tiegs in a nearly see-thrugh bikini made its way into the magazine's pages, resulting in over 300 subscription cancellations.
Sky High

5 of 20
Kathy Ireland appeared on the cover of the Swimsuit issue's 25th-anniversary edition in 1989, resulting in the highest-selling issue ever to date.
Star Power

6 of 20
In 2007, singer Beyoncé Knowles was the first non-model to appear on the SI cover.
Tropic Thunder

7 of 20
Thanks to the 1998 issue's equator theme, Heidi Klum (plus photographers and the entire production team) traveled to the Maldives, Kenya, Indonesia, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands to get perfect shots for the magazine.
Dynamic Duo

8 of 20
In 1996, Tyra Banks was the first African-American model featured on the issue's cover, alongside Argentinean model Valeria Mazza. Banks appeared on the cover solo the following year.
From Russia With Love

9 of 20
After becoming the new face of lingerie brand Intimissimi at the age of 19, Russian model Irina Shayk made her SI debut on the 2011 cover.
Blonde Ambition

10 of 20
As an SI swimsuit model from 2005–11, Anne Vyalitsyna holds the record for most consecutive appearances in the magazine at a whopping seven!
Gentlemen Prefer

11 of 20
Brooklyn Decker, cover girl in 2010, became one of 24 blondes to win the coveted spot. To date, there have only been 20 brunette cover models and zero redheads, although redheaded beauty, Cintia Dicker has graced the pages many times.
Gone Digital

12 of 20
As the 2008 cover girl, Marisa Miller was the face of the first Swimsuit Issue that SI released online.
Dream Team

13 of 20
The first group shot (featuring Hunter, Ireland and Macpherson) may have been in 1994, but 2006's cover featured an all-star cast of Veronica Varekova, Elle Macpherson, Rebecca Romijn, Rachel Hunter, Daniela Pestova, Elsa Benitez, Carolyn Murphy and Yamila Diaz-Rahi.
With a Vengeance

14 of 20
In 2007, Israeli model Bar Refaeli graced the pages of the Swimsuit Issue. Fact: This was the first year the Chinese government allowed the magazine to be sold in that country. Fiction (or at least a popular rumor at the time): Refaeli's then-new boyfriend, Leonardo DiCaprio, arranged the photo shoot to make his ex Gisele Bundchen jealous.
The Body

15 of 20
Elle Macpherson dominated SI of the 80s with appearances on three consecutive covers—1986, 87 and 88.
Tennis, Anyone?

16 of 20
Only a handful of female athletes have appeared in the Swimsuit Issue, including tennis players Steffi Graf and Venus and Serena Williams. In 2006, 6'2" Russian powerhouse Maria Sharapova was featured on the issue's cover inset.
Girl's Best Friend

17 of 20
When Molly Sims appeared in the 2006 issue, she wore a bikini reportedly made of more than $30 million in diamonds.
Platinum or Bust

18 of 20
SI is trying something new with its 2012 issue—incorporating 17 emerging bands into its digital platforms, where one song will be paired with one particular model.
Island Hopping

19 of 20
For the 1979 cover of SI, Christie Brinkley and crew traveled to the beautiful islands of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Brinkley went back for more, and was featured on the covers of the 1980 and '81 issues as well.
Great Expectations

20 of 20
In 1994, cover stars Rachel Hunter and Kathy Ireland were both pregnant at the time of their photo shoot. Elle Macpherson was also featured on the cover, although she was not expecting.
NEXT GALLERY: The Fresh Faces of Sports Illustrated 2012

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Know It All: SI Swimsuit Issue

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Skin Is In

Birthday Suit

Czech Mate

Swimsuit Scandal

Sky High

Star Power

Tropic Thunder

Dynamic Duo

From Russia With Love

Blonde Ambition

Gentlemen Prefer

Gone Digital

Dream Team

With a Vengeance

The Body

Tennis, Anyone?

Girl's Best Friend

Platinum or Bust

Island Hopping

Great Expectations

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