“I’m so incredibly excited to announce that i am on the cover of the 2016 issue of sports illustrated swimsuit issue @si_swimsuit ,honestly words can’t describe how grateful I am. I have worked my butt off and never gave up on my dream! Thank you so much for making my dreams come true tonight @mj_day I have so much love for you!”, Hailey Clauson wrote on Instagram.

“Truly speechless!!! This cover is for every woman who felt like she wasn’t beautiful enough because of her size. You can do and achieve anything you put your mind to. Thank you so much to the entire @si_swimsuit team! I’m so excited to be a part of your family. I love you all!!!,” Ashley wrote on her Instagram account.

“Such an honor to share the cover with @theashleygraham and @haileyclauson for @si_swimsuit’s issue celebrating women of all body type, ” Rousey wrote on her Instagram account.

28-year-old Ashley Graham is a plus-size lingerie model, motivational speaker and a body activist.

The three cover girls of the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition – Ronda Rousey, Hailey Clauson and Ashley Graham.

Female athletes, despite their proficiency in their chosen sport, rarely receive the attention and celebrity they deserve. Serena Williams might make millions from sponsorships and tournament wins, yet she still doesn’t get nearly the amount of respect she probably should. And her peers, from those Williams challengers on the court to the U.S. Women’s World Cup champions, and every other sport from bobsledding to pole vaulting (if they’re in the Olympics, they count), could do with some more credit. Because on top of being at, well, the top of their game, these athletes are also beautiful — and some even dare to pose for Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue — wearing nothing but body paint. 


Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn posing on the beach in Petit St. Vincent in body paint inspired by a Missoni swimsuit

Appearing in the magazine’s annual swimsuit edition for the second time (her first shoot was in 2010), Lindsey Vonn went all-in. “I wasn’t quite sure if I was comfortable at first with the body paint, but I figured it’s just pretty much the same as wearing a bathing suit anyway,” the skier explained. “When you see the suit on a hanger and then see it on your body painted, it’s a totally different experience. It’s very freeing!” (Photo: Frederic Pinet/Courtesy of Sports Illustrated) 

Vonn poses in body paint inspired by a Missoni swimsuit

“I don’t know why people say that they feel like they’re clothed because I definitely feel naked still,” Vonn said. (Photo: Frederic Pinet/Courtesy of Sports Illustrated) 


Even better from the back: Vonn in body paint inspired by a Missoni swimsuit

“I think it’s a lot more beautiful than I ever imagined.” (Photo: Frederic Pinet/Courtesy of Sports Illustrated) 

Caroline Wozniacki poses in body paint inspired by a red For Love & Lemons one-piece 

For the second year in a row, Wozniacki has appeared in the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. But she took year two to a whole new level. “When I look at myself and I look down at myself, I feel like I have plenty of clothes on,” the Danish tennis star explained. “But I feel totally naked!” (Photo: Frederic Pinet/Courtesy of Sports Illustrated) 

Wozniacki in body paint, which took 15 hours to apply, inspired by a For Love & Lemons one-piece 

At the shoot, she described the sensation as, “I feel like I am a piece of art walking around right now.” (Photo: Frederic Pinet/Courtesy of Sports Illustrated) 


Rousey posing on the beach on Petit St. Vincent in body paint inspired by a We Are Handsome swimsuit

For the shoot, the Rousey’s call time was 11 p.m. — the night before. After the 15 hours needed to apply the leopard swim art, she said, “I think this is the longest I’ve just like walked around naked since I was like 10.” The fighter added she felt “very fierce.” (Photo: Frederic Pinet/Courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

Swim City is Sports Illustrated’s two-day fan festival to celebrate the 2016 premiere of the iconic SI Swimsuit franchise. The festival was Feb. 15-16 in the Altman Building, and was free and open to the public.

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Irina Shayk smiles for the camera while signing for fans at the Swim City festival in New York City on Tuesday Feb. 16, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Tanya Mityushina signs for fans at the Swim City festival in New York City on Tuesday Feb. 16, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Sports Illustrated swimsuit models Barbara Palvin and Bo Krsmanovic pose for a photo while signing for fans at the Swim City festival in New York City on Tuesday Feb. 16, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Mia King blows a kiss toward the photographer at the Swim City festival in New York City on Tuesday Feb. 16, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Irina Shayk poses for a photo with a fan at the Swim City festival in New York City on Tuesday Feb. 16, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Samantha Hoopes finds the camera's eye and everyone's eye at the Swim City festival in New York City on Tuesday Feb. 16, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Sports Illustrated swimsuit models Robyn Lawley, left, and Mia King pose for photos at the Swim City festival in New York City on Tuesday Feb. 16, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl Ashley Graham holds the 2016 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue during the Swim City festival in New York City on Monday Feb. 15, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

This is Gigi Hadid's third year featuring in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue and her figure is just getting better and better.

Showing off her 'California Girl' glow in a series of skimpy bikinis, the 20-year-old model sizzles as she writhes around on a Tahiti beach for a spot in the highly coveted swim issue.

Just yesterday the issue made history by featuring size 16 Ashley Graham as their first ever plus-size model to grace the cover of the issue.

Unveiling the cover on her Instagram page, Graham, who has modeled for some of the biggest designers in the world, said it's for "every woman who felt like she wasn't beautiful enough because of her size."

"You can do and achieve anything you put your mind to," she added in the caption.

Stunning model Hailey Clauson and UFC fighter Ronda Rousey also got their own covers.

Samantha Hoopes at the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit launch celebration in NYC on Feb. 16. (Photo: Getty Images) 

Even Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models get a slight case of the nerves.

When Yahoo Celebrity met up with Samantha Hoopes — whose blond locks, tight abs, and perfect pins are featured throughout the glossy magazine — at the Swim City event at the Altman Building in New York City on Tuesday, there were men snaked around the room, clutching their copies of the mag, waiting to meet her and other SI Swimsuit beauties. While the Doylestown, Pennsylvania, native posed in little more than bikini bottoms in the special issue, she has a slight trepidation about her outfit today. Underboob can have that type of effect on a girl.

But whether or not the 25-year-old model is showing too much skin is just one passing thought on Hoopes’s mind as we chat at the Schick Hydro booth, where male attendees got to enjoy a free shave. She’s unfiltered on all topics from her opinion of the trio of cover models (Ronda Rousey, Ashley Graham, and Hailey Clauson) to that “embarrassing” thing with NBA star Blake Griffin that has been “haunting” her for the last few months. And she weighs in on everything from skin hydration (she doesn’t hold back!) to taking a great selfie (she’s all about Snapchat).

 I was really excited because it was the first time they did three covers. The fact that there are three girls — all different shapes and sizes, who come from different places — I think it’s exciting.

 I was really excited because it was the first time they did three covers. The fact that there are three girls — all different shapes and sizes, who come from different places — I think it’s exciting.

"The best part is there are three different types of women [up here], representing every type of woman," said Clauson, 20.

Rousey appeared genuinely stunned, admitting that she thought she "was in the wrong spot" when she was called up as a cover girl finalist.

There will be three separate covers issued featuring solo shots of each girl.

The 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has finally revealed its cover girl, and the honor has gone to not one, but three women: Ronda Rousey, Ashley Graham and Hailey Clauson.

The three finalists were all called to the front when Cannon announced that there would be three covers "for the first time ever" in the magazine's 52-year history.

The reveal came during a live one-hour show, hosted by Nick Cannon and Rebecca Romijn, following TNT's NBA All-Star Saturday Night.

Graham was equally as surprised at the win, exclaiming, "I'm shaking!"

Inside the magazine, the trio is joined by a slew of lovely ladies, including Graham's fellow SI Swim's 2016 rookies Barbara Palvin, Bojana Krsmanovic, Sofia Resing and Tanya Mitushina. 

An exclusive preview of Barbara Palvin for Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Feb. 15. (Photo: James Macari/Sports Illustrated)

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition hits stands on Monday, and we have an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated issue. There are a few new models gracing the pages of the bestselling edition, including Barbara Palvin. The 23-year-old stunner was discovered over a decade ago in Budapest, Hungary. She has had a thriving career modeling for Victoria’s Secret, H&M, Louis Vuitton, and as a L’Oréal Paris ambassador, but she is about to become a household name thanks to her upcoming appearance in the pages of SI. Palvin stopped by Yahoo Beauty’s offices for a Periscope interview in which the smart model dished on everything from her love of reading (she reads a book in a day) and her business ventures (she has two) to how she prepped for the big shoot (nope, it didn’t involve dieting).

Gigi Hadid ruled the runway during a fun, faux fashion show at the Zoolander 2 premiere at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old fashion model stunned while kicking off the purple carpet in a patriotic red, white and blue, off-the-shoulder gown that hugged her curves. Just look at that facial expression! She's all business when it comes to looking astounding.

Hadid wasn't the only supermodel to make waves at the fashion show! Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Irina Shayk also shined, showing off her short 'do and flawless figure in a sleeveless, semi-sheer dress with a feathered neckline.


Not to be outdone, Zoolander 2 stars Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz and Will Ferrell -- in character as Derek Zoolander, Hansel McDonald, Melanie Valentina and Jacobim Mugatu, respectively -- strutted their stuff down the purple carpet as well.
Getty Images

Ronda Rousey (Photo: Frederic Pinet/Sports Illustrated)

Sports Illustrated has officially turned a new page, not only releasing a trio of covers for its 2016 Swimsuit Issue, but highlighting three beautiful women of varying body types.

Ashley Graham, Ronda Rousey, and Hailey Clauson each have their own individual — and completely gorgeous — cover.


“The three covers of Hailey, Ronda and Ashley celebrate the new SI Swimsuit,” the magazine’s assistant managing editor, MJ Day, said. “All three women are beautiful, sexy, and strong. Beauty is not cookie cutter. Beauty is not ‘one size fits all.’ Beauty is all around us and that became especially obvious to me while shooting and editing this year’s issue.”

MMA star Rousey’s appearance in the magazine was expected; an image from her photo shoot was leaked in January and gained quite a bit of buzz. After all, the 29-year-old was wearing nothing but body paint made to look like a one-piece swimsuit.

Hailey Clauson (Photo: James Macari/Sports Illustrated)

Clauson, 20, knows a little something about that; the high-fashion model appeared in the 2015 issue wearing a teeny red, white, and blue painted-on bikini. Day described her as “the definition of a modern bombshell.”

Ashley Graham (Photo: James Macari/Sports Illustrated)

Graham, 28, is also featured in an ad campaign in the magazine revealed earlier this month. The plus-size model (who prefers to be called “curvy sexalicious”) is a rookie this year.

“Ashley commands your attention in her photographs,” Day explained. “She owns her sexiness in a way that every woman should. Her confidence is contagious.”

Model and body activist, Ashley Graham has become the latest rookie to grace the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Graham, the face of plus-size clothing line Lane Bryant, has donned a two-piece as part of the #SwimSexy campaign ad photos by  ‘swimsuitforall’ company. The ad also features two other UK based plus-size models – Philomena Kwao and also 56-year-old Nicola Griffin, the oldest person ever to be featured in the magazine.

28-year-old Graham started modelling at the age of 13, after she was scouted at a shopping mall in her hometown. At the age of 17, she relocated to New York, becoming a full-time model ever since. Graham once recalled how people would react with raised eyebrows when they come to know that she does modelling for a living, given her unconventional body type.  

Graham is of the opinion that there shouldn’t be an ideal standard when it comes to beauty, and she believes that it should come from inside out, not the other way around. Despite being a model, she admitted to having insecurities during her initial years.

“I felt free, once I realised that I was never going to fit the narrow mould that society wanted me to fit in. I was never going to be perfect enough for an industry that defines perfection from the outside in. And that’s ok. Rolls, curves, cellulite…all of it, I love every part of me!,” she said during one of her TED talks.

In US, size 8-16 is considered plus-size, and a lot of young women experience body confidence issues. Graham says she wants to be a voice for such people who struggle to find someone whom they can look up to.

Graham’s inclusion in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue marks a paradigm shift, and is considered a big step towards acceptance. The latest issue will hit the newsstands on February 15.

‘Size sexy’ model Ashley Graham models activewear for Elle Addition [Photo: Elle Addition]

If your dedication to the gym is starting to wane and you need a bit of fitspiration to give it a boost, then check out these shots from plus-sized model Ashley Graham’s new activewear campaign.


If only we looked this good working out [Photo: Addition Elle]

And it’s not the first time Ashley has done her bit for the body positive. The self-named ‘size sexy’ model hit the headlines last year after becoming the first size 16 model to feature in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue.


‘I know my curves are sexy and I want everyone else to know that theirs are too,’ Ashley said at the time. ‘There is no reason to hide and every reason to flaunt.’

Don’t sweat it. [Photo: Instagram/theashleygraham]

Determined to prove that a strong body is a sexy one, the inspiration model often shares pictures of her workouts on Instagram to inspire her 970,000 followers.