Why is Hannah Davis wearing a bikini on a farm in Tennessee? And why is the 24-year-old model dating a balding 40-year-old man with bad ankles? Shut up, the Swimsuit issue isn’t meant for brains.
This year’s cover is graced by the Davis, who has appeared in the issue twice before, but was given the much sought-after honor of cover girl for 2015. Davis has previously modeled for Victoria’s Secret, American Eagle, Tommy Hilfiger and Levi’s.
“I gave her a hug and the only words she could get out were, ‘Are you sure? Is it definitely printed already,'” SI assistant managing editor MJ Day said in a statement. The publication also released a video of the young model, who dates longtime New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, reacting to the cover for the first time.
The Swimsuit issue has never been famous for empowering women, but 2015 marks the first time that a plus size model appears in the issue. Granted, she’s in an ad, not the main lineup, but model Ashley Graham and the swimsuitsforall campaign is getting some rightfully deserved press for pushing the new #CurvesInBikinis initiative. Add that to the successful Always #LikeAGirl Super Bowl commercial and it lends a little hope – maybe next year, curvy women will escape the advertisements to be included in an official SI spread.
Check out Graham’s commercial here:
Though the issue isn’t formally released online until Feburary 9th and on newsstands February 10th, the formal reveal was made on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, with the cover girl herself appearing.
Even in its 51st year, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover manages to stay relevant because when isn’t a bikini on a farm relevant? Exactly.
[h/t Huffington Post and those drooling teenagers on the Red Line this morning]
