Kate Upton and Hunter McGrady Debut Gayle King’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Cover Photo

Gayle King was revealed as one of the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue’s cover stars on Tuesday. The longtime journalist was featured in a behind-the-scenes video of the Mexico shoot, fashioning various swimwear styles for the cover.

“I never in a million years thought I would be standing here in a bathing suit for Sports Illustrated. But here I am,” King said in the behind-the-scenes video, which was shared via social media. “I would have never thought this was possible,” she said, adding “this was nowhere on my bucket list.”

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The video featured King wearing a vibrant yellow one-piece, a white halter-strap one-piece, an orange one-piece and a patterned swimsuit with coordinating cover-up, among other styles, for the photo shoot. King’s looks were coordinated with pieces of gold jewelry, as well.

During an episode of “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday, King was presented with her cover issue by Kate Upton, who was also named a cover star for the Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Swimsuit Issue. King said she had no idea she was going to be featured on the cover of the magazine. Instead, she believed her photos would only be featured on the inside of the issue. Along with King and Upton, Chrissy Teigen and Hunter McGrady will appear on separate covers of the issue, as well.

The 2024 cover will mark Upton’s fourth time as a cover star for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The model first appeared in the issue of the magazine’s annual spread in 2011. In 2012, she was the cover star for the first time and appeared on the cover again in 2013 and 2017.

McGrady is an American plus-size model whose walked the New York Fashion Week runway. McGrady has modeled styles by Chromat and partnered with QVC in the 2020. In 2017, she became the first size 16 model to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

The first issue of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit cover debuted in 1964 and featured Babette March. Subsequent stars have included Christie Brinkley, Heidi Klum, Cheryl Tiegs and more. In 1997, Tyra Banks made history as the first Black woman to grace the cover of the issue.

King also joins a growing list of non-models who’ve appeared on the cover. Tennis star Naomi Osaka became the first Black athlete to appear both inside and on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 2023, Martha Stewart appeared on the cover of the issue.

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