Guide Note

There are 52 weekly issues of Sports Illustrated that are printed every year, covering a variety of professional and amateur sports. Yet, the single most popular edition every year without question is the Swimsuit Issue. It is generally printed in mid-February each year, and has featured some of the most beautiful women in the world.

Fast Facts

1. First edition: 1964, Babette March on the cover
2. Most times on cover: 5 by Elle Macpherson
3. Best selling: 1989 with Kathy Ireland on the cover

In 1964, the editors at the magazine were concerned about the lack of sporting events in the month of February, and were looking for a way to keep the attention span of their predominantly male audience, most of whom were located in the northern half of the United States, thus still in the grip of winter. So they decided to shoot several models wearing bathing suits. The overwhelming response turned it into the most popular issue the magazine produces each year. In 2005, the issue generated $35 million of advertising revenue.

Over the years, a myth about the magazine has developed called the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx. It rationalizes that when any athlete or team appears on the cover, more likely than not said cover subject will struggle the next game(s) because of the appearance. It's a theory that has some validity among sports fans, except where the swimsuit issue is concerned. Just check out this role call of supermodels that dared to grace the cover: Elle Macpherson, Carol Alt, Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, Heidi Klum, Kathy Ireland, Rachel Hunter, and Tyra Banks. Also having appeared inside over the years were: Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Angie Everhart, Stephanie Seymour, and numerous athletes such as Steffi Graf, Anna Kournikova, Amanda Beard, Danica Patrick, and Maria Sharapova. Even pop star Beyonce Knowles appeared in the 2007 edition. Marisa Miller appears on the cover of the 2008 edition.