Megan Thee Stallion, Naomi Osaka, and Leyna Bloom Serve Up History-Making Covers For ‘Sports Illustrated’ 2021 Swimsuit Issue

Sports Illustrated is officially having a hot girl summer, thanks to its newest cover model. Megan Thee Stallion is the first rapper to ever grace its cover — and she is serving body ody ody for her. She’s not the only beauty who is making history for the glossy’s swimsuit issue. In fact, it’s an all Black-girl magic moment with tennis phenom Naomi Osaka posing it up as the first athlete and Leyna Bloom as the first transgender model to cover the magazine.

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“If there’s one thing that our cover models have in common, it’s that they don’t have one thing in common,” said MJ Day, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor-in-chief of the release. “They look different, have different upbringings, have different passions and inspirations. But each is a reminder that beauty comes in many forms.”

Megan The Stallion was lensed by James Maraca for her cover spread where she rocks several looks from her Fashion Noval collabo (boss moves!) with perfectly swooped baby edges and unit by her go-to hairstylist Kellon Deryck.

The magazine attributes Megan’s “unapologetic attitude” and confidence for the history-making move.

“Megan Thee Stallion doesn’t stay in one lane,” said Day. “In fact, she encourages everyone to be in multiple, and this is what we love about her. She captured the world’s attention with her music and style, but what caught our attention was her unfiltered approach to the way she makes you think. She uses her platform to push boundaries, dissect societal norms and encourage humans to think about the backward way our society continues to operate. Megan is a vessel for change, and we are honored to have her on our 2021 cover.”

As the first athlete and the first Haitian and Japanese woman to grace the cover, it is Osaka’s “strength and power off the court that make Naomi a true legend,” wrote the magazine.

“What drew us to Naomi was her passion, strength and power geared toward consistently breaking barriers when it comes to equality, social justice and mental health,” said Day. “She is wholeheartedly dedicated to achieving the impossible and has succeeded time and again. We are so honored to have one of the fiercest female trailblazers in history as one of our 2021 covers.”

Bloom made history earlier this year as the first transgender woman to even appear in the magazine. Now, the Black and Asian beauty is upping the ante as the first

“Leyna is legendary in the world of activism, strikingly gorgeous, and has an undeniable sense of self that shines through the minute she walks on set,” said Day. “Her story represents one grounded in resilience, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to help her tell it. Her presence as the first trans woman of color to be in our issue is a result of her lifetime dedication to forging her own path.”

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