Megan Thee Stallion Fronts 'Sports Illustrated' 2021 Swimsuit Issue
The first rapper to cover the glossy’s swimwear edition.
Megan Thee Stallion has notched another impressive accomplishment: the cover star of Sports Illustrated‘s swimsuit issue.
The Houston rapper, photographed by James Macari in Hollywood, Florida, poses for a beachside spread in effortless wet waves and sun-kissed makeup. The first female rapper to front the magazine’s annual swim edition, the “Hot Girl Summer” artist exudes confidence and describes the opportunity as a “dream come true.” In explaining why Megan Thee Stallion is named one of this year’s cover stars, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day praises the rapper for using her platform unapologetically to push boundaries and dismantle societal norms. “Megan is a vessel for change,” Day writes, acknowledging Meg’s influence in shifting not only music, but also culture at large.
Two other history-making covers, featuring tennis star Naomi Osaka and model Leyna Bloom respectively, have also been revealed for the 2021 issue. Osaka is the first female Black athlete to appear on an SI Swimsuit cover, while Bloom becomes the first transgender cover model in the publication’s history of over 50 years. Both covers are shot by Yu Tsai.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2021 hits stands on July 22. Preview pages of the issue here.
