This year's SI swimsuit edition cover model is ...

[DanOregon]

I received a "renewal offer" from SI about two years after my subscription lapsed. My final issue was the COVID empty stands cover - seemed about right.

Oh yeah - 20 year subscriber.

 

[BTExpress]

Martha is one of 28 women in the issue. Not much is going to move the needle as far as a single person.

A far cry from the 3 models and 8 photos during the "golden era" of SI.

 

[DanOregon]

Give me ONE cover model - or Kathy Ireland with someone else (I won't split hairs). I need to know whom I should be lusting after. Carol Alt, Cheryl Tiegs, Brinkley whomever....

 

[justgladtobehere]

Jeez, can't think of one or 6.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Jeez, can't think of one or 6.

Everyone is playing for second place behind Kathy Ireland. What a sight for ninth-grade eyes back in the day. Or now.

 

[SixToe]

Everyone is playing for second place behind Kathy Ireland. What a sight for ninth-grade eyes back in the day. Or now.

Amen.

 

[Batman]

Give me ONE cover model - or Kathy Ireland with someone else (I won't split hairs). I need to know whom I should be lusting after. Carol Alt, Cheryl Tiegs, Brinkley whomever....

Elle Macpherson was the GOAT in my late 80s/early 90s era. There's a picture from, I think, the 25th anniversary edition of her and Kathy Ireland in a pool together (Elle is on her back and Kathy on her stomach, both wearing two-pieces and laying in a few inches of water) that to this day is in the running for greatest photograph ever taken.

Underrated: Stacey Williams. She came along and might have snagged a couple of covers in that 1991-94 range, right after the Big Three of Elle, Kathy and Rachel Hunter had left the swimsuit issue behind, and before Tyra Banks took over as the It Girl a few years later. It was the swimsuit version of the Rockets winning two championships after Jordan left to play baseball.

 

[Slacker]

This shot of Kelly Emberg has stuck with me for decades ...

 

[SixToe]

1. Elle
1a. Kathy

 

[Slacker]

Give me ONE cover model - or Kathy Ireland with someone else (I won't split hairs).
I need to know whom I should be lusting after. Carol Alt, Cheryl Tiegs, Brinkley whomever....

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Carol Alt, SI swimsuit cover, 1982.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

I repeat, everyone else is playing for second place. (Though I was in 10th grade for this, not ninth, we apologize for the error)