Kim Kardashian lands first-ever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover – as she joins Elon Musk’s 74-year-old mom Maye, singer Ciara, and plus-size model Yumi Nu in gracing the front of FOUR editions
- The 2022 issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit will hit stands on May 19, and will feature Kardashian, as well as Musk, 74, Ciara, 36, and Nu, 36, on the cover
- Photographed by Greg Swales, fresh-faced Kardashian, 41, posed in a nude SKIMS bikini with matching sheer gloves for the cover
- The mom-of-four, who recently went through a very-public breakup with her ex-husband, Kanye West, penned a powerful note to younger herself for the issue
- She opened up about becoming a ‘more private person’ and learning to put her family first. She wrote, ‘The way to get your story out there – the actual narrative, the truth – isn’t by engaging but by doing’
- The four women were photographed in separate locations, including Kardashian in the Dominican Republic, Ciara in Barbados, Musk in Belize, and Nu in Montenegro
- In addition to the four cover stars, the issue will celebrate 28 powerful women including WNBA stars Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart and newcomers Duckie Thot, Kamie Crawford, and Olivia Ponton
Kim Kardashian opened up about becoming a ‘more private person’ and learning to put her family first in an emotional letter to her younger self, as she graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s 2022 issue.
The reality star is set to appear on front of the famed magazine – which hits stands on May 19 – for the first time, alongside Elon Musk’s 74-year-old mom Maye, singer Ciara, and plus-size model Yumi Nu.
Photographed by Greg Swales, fresh-faced Kardashian, 41, posed in a nude SKIMS bikini with matching sheer gloves for the cover. Her long, dark hair fell loosely on her body as she perched herself on a rock in the water.
In other pictures, she donned a metallic, silver, strapless SKIMS bathing suit with Balenciaga sunglasses, as she floated in the ocean.
Another showed her posing with a motorcycle and starring seductively at the camera in a black SKIMS bikini and Balenciaga jeans.
Kim Kardashian opened up about becoming a ‘more private person’ and learning to put her family first in an emotional letter to her younger self, as she graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ‘s 2022 issue
The reality star is set to appear on front of the famed magazine – which hits stands on May 19 – for the first time, alongside Elon Musk’s 74-year-old mom Maye (pictured in May 2021), singer Ciara, and plus-size model Yumi Nu
The latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will mark the first time that mother-of-three (pictured in July 2021) will pose for the magazine. The digital images are set to be released later today
Nu, 36, a Japanese and Dutch recording artist, became the first-ever Asian plus-size model to be featured in SI Swim as a rookie last year (pictured) – and it launched a huge modeling career for her
A fourth featured the Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum looking sultry in a tiny swimsuit as she stood in the water clutching a motorcycle helmet. The digital images are set to be released later today.
The mom-of-four, who recently went through a very-public breakup with her ex-husband, Kanye West, penned a powerful note to younger herself for the issue.
She reminded herself to ‘ignore the criticism’ and to focus on ‘helping other people’ instead.
‘It’s easy to say to just ignore the criticism, but another thing you’ll learn is that at some point it will click in your head that it’s not about you anymore,’ she wrote.
‘It’s about family. It’s about helping other people. For years you’ll be putting yourself out there… But you’re going to become a more private person and you’re going to come to realize that the way to get your story out there – the actual narrative, the truth – isn’t by engaging but by doing.
‘But know this. When you get here, to May 2022, you’re not going to be content. You’re still going to be looking for that next “it” And when you find it, you’re going to do it – we’re going to do it – like we always do: to the fullest.’
The four women were photographed in separate locations, including Kardashian in the Dominican Republic, Ciara in Barbados, Musk in Belize, and Nu in Montenegro.
‘The journey we’ve been on – to break out of the mold the world put us in – may sound familiar. It’s certainly familiar to the women we’ve chosen to be our cover models: Maye, Ciara, Yumi, Kim,’ MJ Day, editor in chief of SI Swimsuit, said in a statement.
‘At course, Kim, no stranger to the world’s judgment, continues to live proudly, authentically and unapologetically through the noise.
‘Ciara has seen enormous success as a performer while simultaneously focusing on her passion for philanthropy and service. At 74, Maye continues to work every day to inspire those around her.
‘It’s easy to say to just ignore the criticism, but another thing you’ll learn is that at some point it will click in your head that it’s not about you anymore,’ Kardashian (pictured in January) added. ‘It’s about family. It’s about helping other people’
‘And in her first year of being in the spotlight, Yumi is coming into who she is and taking on the responsibility of what she stands for.’
In addition to the four cover stars, the issue will celebrate 28 powerful women including WNBA stars Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart, newcomers Duckie Thot, Kamie Crawford, and Olivia Ponton, and former cover models Camille Kostek, Leyna Bloom, and Kate Bock.
Ciara, 36, who was famously behind songs like One, Two Step, Level Up, and Body Part, has now sold 23 million records worldwide.
She has also tried her hand at modeling, acting, producing, and designing over the years – and dedicates much of her time to giving back.
In 2014, alongside her husband, footballer Russel Wilson, she founded the Why Not You foundation – which ‘works to fight poverty through education and has programming to empower youth to lead.’
Her husband couldn’t stop gushing over her in the issue, telling SI Swim, ‘That’s what my wife does. She inspires people because she connects with them. She tilts rooms when she walks into them.
‘It really seems like all the furniture just slides her way. Maybe it’s an interaction with a fan, where she’ll suggest they take a selfie together before the fan can even ask.
‘Or it might be a far more serious situation. I remember our first visit to Seattle Children’s Hospital, when a mother of a boy who was ill held on to her for a good five minutes without letting go. That’s the kind of woman Ciara is – a ray of light.
‘As you can probably tell, I’m incredibly proud of my wife. And now that she’s on the cover of SI Swimsuit, that’s one more thing for me to take pride in.
‘I know it’s something she’s always wanted. And I know she’ll use the visibility that comes with being on the cover to inspire even more people – not only as a mother and the beautiful angel and the powerful woman that she is, but also as the businesswoman that she is, the fashion icon that she is.’
She was photographed by Ben Watts for the cover shoot, posing in a cheetah print LaQuan Smith swimsuit.
Ciara’s husband, Russel Wilson, told SI Swim, ‘I know she’ll use the visibility that comes with being on the cover to inspire even more people – not only as a mother and the powerful woman she is, but also as a businesswoman and fashion icon’
Nu, who modeled for Vogue Japan last year, told the outlet: ‘For me to be on the cover of Vogue Japan meant being seen and being honored by a culture that often makes people with bigger bodies like mine feel invisible.’ She is pictured for the SI Swim shoot
Musk – the mother of billionaire Tesla and SpaceX founder, Elon – has been a model for more than 50 years now, appearing in campaigns for magazines like Time, New York Magazine, Elle Canada, Women’s Day, and Vogue, and posing for brands like Special K, Revlon, and Target.
She starred in Beyoncé’s music video for her hit song Haunted in 2013, and made history in 2017, when she became CoverGirl’s oldest spokesmodel at age 69.
She also wrote her own memoir in 2019, called A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success.
‘My whole life, I’ve seen my mom do everything. As a result I think I’ll always expect her to be able to do everything,’ her daughter and Elon’s sister, Tosca Musk, told SI Swimsuit.
‘Sometimes I wonder whether it’s time I start limiting those expectations, as she gets older. But then I look at her again, still unstoppable, and I think, Not yet.
‘My mom is 74 now. In her years on this planet she’s earned two master’s degrees in nutrition science, won awards in the dietetics field, has been in countless fashion shows and editorials, and she’s even appeared in a Beyoncé video. She is an uncontainable force, and she’s the most fearless woman I’ve ever known.’
For the SI Swim cover, Musk donned an orange and white, ruffled Maygel Coronel one-piece. The 74-year-old – who was photographed by Yu Tsai – complimented the look with a Viktoria Hayman bracelet.
Nu, 36, a Japanese and Dutch recording artist, became the first-ever Asian plus-size model to be featured in SI Swim as a rookie last year – and it launched a huge modeling career for her.
‘After making my SI Swimsuit debut in last year’s issue, I appeared on the cover of the September issue of Vogue; I shot for Victoria’s Secret; I even did a fragrance campaign,’ she told SI Swim for the cover shoot. ‘And I fulfilled a longtime dream of mine by booking the cover of Vogue Japan.
‘I’m second-generation Japanese American, and Japanese culture values being skinny, dainty and small. So for me to be on the cover of Vogue Japan meant being seen and being honored by a culture that often makes people with bigger bodies like mine feel invisible.
‘Even here in the U.S., where a lot of the fashion industry has become more inclusive toward people with bodies like mine in the last few years, some people – for example, designers at certain high-fashion houses and dumb, angry guys on the internet, among others – just haven’t quite figured out yet that people who look like me belong everywhere everyone else does. But to them I say: “We’ll wait. We’re here, and we’re not going away.”’
Nu (pictured for SI) added: ‘Some people just haven’t quite figured out yet that people who look like me belong everywhere everyone else does. But to them I say: “We’ll wait. We’re here, and we’re not going away”‘
Musk (pictured in Elon in May 2022) starred in Beyoncé’s music video for her hit song Haunted in 2013, and made history in 2017, when she became CoverGirl’s oldest spokesmodel at age 69
‘My whole life, I’ve seen my mom do everything,’ Musk’s daughter and Elon’s sister, Tosca, told SI Swim. ‘Sometimes I wonder whether it’s time I start limiting those expectations, as she gets older. But I look at her, still unstoppable, and I think, not yet’
Photographed by James Macari, Nu left little to imagination in the cover shoot, showing off her body in a revealing, cut-out Michael Costello x REVOLVE bathing suit.
Each year, the outlet hosts a slew of famous faces on its cover. In the past, stars like Megan Thee Stallion, Olivia Cuplo, Tyra Banks, Kate Upton, Ashley Graham, Lily Aldridge, Chrissy Teigen, and Nina Agdal have all appeared on the front of the mag.
Last month, Kardashian revealed how Banks, 48, inspired her to feel more comfortable in her skin after she saw the supermodel on the cover of SI Swim when she was younger.
The two teamed up for a recent SKIMS campaign, and appeared together on the Today Show to promote it back in April.
‘This is something I’ve been talking about for decades,’ said Banks. ‘Me curvier, me damn near almost 50 years old in this campaign – I think it is pretty empowering.
‘[Kardashian] said when I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, she hadn’t seen boobs that were real and big. She said that that gave her self-esteem for her body. So we had, like, a serious conversation, and I finally said, “Let’s do this!”‘
Kardashian added: ‘We just had an honest heart-to-heart conversation, and she got to hear what the brand stands for, why I started the brand – and I’m just all about supporting women.’
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