Gayle King Felt Like Beyoncé Shooting the 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit' Cover Ahead of Turning 70

Gayle King is officially a cover model! The 69-year-old CBS Mornings co-host found out live on Tuesday’s show that she was on the cover of the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue — and it’s a dream come true.

The surprise was revealed during a segment about the iconic issue with models Hunter McGrady and Kate Upton sharing their solo covers. King had posed for the magazine, but she was told it was for an editorial piece inside the swimsuit edition — she didn’t expect such an epic honor! Upton handed her the magazine, and the news anchor went wild with excitement. “Ahhh! I’m on the cover,” King screamed. “They told me I was just going to be on the inside! It’s not a dummy cover? This is going to be on the newsstands? Oh my God! Oh my God!”

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The shock was written all over King’s face as she continued, “I’m floating, I’m floating, I can’t believe it,” she said, noting she didn’t think she’d ever be on the cover. “Never in my wildest dreams! Never, ever, ever.” The journalist looked stunning in her snapshot with a print, one-piece swimsuit and coverup that showed off her gorgeous curves. King praised photographer Yu Tsai for making her feel like a true Hollywood superstar on the Cancun, Mexico set. “He made me feel like I was Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry all rolled into one,” she shared with People. “I felt so comfortable and cared for that I didn’t even have time to feel self-conscious.”

It’s an accomplishment that King never thought would come true just ahead of her 70th birthday in December. McGrady told King on the morning show that “sexy isn’t an age, sexy isn’t a size — look how beautiful you look. It’s so inspiring to women of all ages. Yes, girl, you did that!” That is exactly what MJ Day, Editor-in-Chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, hoped to achieve by having King pose for the annual issue.

“Gayle King, a first-timer who, like her co-cover models, not so gently reminds us that women are limitless and control their destinies,” Day said to People. King also let everyone know that she ate “a cheeseburger” the day before her big shoot because “it’s one of my favorite things.” A role model who understands that self-care is the best care — King is a true queen.

Before you go, click here to see celebrity women over 50 whose bikini photos are blowing our minds.

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