The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is coming out soon. Who will be on the cover? Will Ashley Graham bring out her proud thickness again and cause a major pearl-clutching kerfuffle? Will we see another plus-sized model, possibly a model of color? Well, probably not. According to Page Six’s sources, SI will have three cover subjects: Serena Williams (!!!!!), Christie Brinkley and Kate Upton. First of all, if they use Serena for the cover, I AM HERE FOR IT. I’m okay with using Christie on the cover too – SI has already released some photos (not cover images) of their new shoot with Christie and her daughters. As for Kate Upton… she’s not a thing anymore. She was important like five years ago but now everyone’s like “Who?” Which makes this Page Six story a little bit funny.
Sports Illustrated is releasing its highly anticipated Swimsuit issue on Monday, and sources tell us that it’s likely they will have three covers starring tennis champ Serena Williams, 63-year-old model Christie Brinkley, and possibly Kate Upton. Last year, the magazine also used three covers, which featured curvy model Ashley Graham, Hailey Clauson and mixed martial arts champ Ronda Rousey in body paint. Sources tell us that an appearance by Upton — whose Rookie of the Year pictures in the mag in 2011 helped make her a star — is still up in the air because of her diva demands.
“There was drama,” says the source. “Kate demanded that if she did the shoot, that she absolutely must get the cover. She also had a list of photographers and hair and makeup people she would only work with.”
Upton appeared on the magazine’s cover twice, in 2012 and 2013, when she was photographed in Antarctica. The source continued of this time around, “She was being a big f - - king diva. She’s thinks she’s better than everyone because she’s an actress.”
Upton appeared in “The Other Woman” with Leslie Mann and Cameron Diaz in 2014, and the film was panned by critics. She has three films in post-production, including one directed by William H. Macy and another by James Franco. In 2015, Upton — who is engaged to MLB player Justin Verlander — was the subject of a New York Post article discussing whether her “ego is ‘ruining her career.’ ” One modeling industry vet said that her “demands became ridiculous.”
This year, Sports Illustrated has already released glam shots of new mom Chrissy Teigen, Nina Agdal and Lais Ribeiro, which means they are unlikely to be on the cover.
If true – and I’m wary of believing these claims 100% – then SI should just not give Upton a cover. We would all be perfectly fine with just Brinkley and Serena Williams covers. In fact, I’m so overwhelmed with the idea of Serena on the SI cover that I can barely focus on Upton’s alleged diva tendencies. That being said, I always thought it was a huge mistake for Upton to turn her back on modeling. She’s not a great actress but she actually was a decent model. I applauded her when she went back and got a modeling agent last year. Anyway, BRING ON SERENA.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Is she getting younger???
I think this would be way way way below Serena. She’s too good for that.
Serena should be on Vogue, if anything – not that Vogue is perfect but prestige-wise, it is a big step up from SI.
I agree in part – Serena is way beyond any of this ridiculousness …BUT it would be grand to have her special combo of strength and beauty on the cover of SI – a mag that really plays to the base. I’m sure there will be “words” from some corners. Bring it.
She is magnificent, on court and off.
Serena FOR THE COVER!! 🙂 I adore her, I wish she would get more covers too!
SERENA!!!!!!
Go Serena! I’ll buy any magazine with her on the cover.
SI loves Kate, and for her to not get the cover at this point could be embarrassing. But either do it or don’t, don’t make demands. There are a lot of other former cover models in the issue too.
I think Serena would be awesome but can we stop and look at Christie! OMG! 63 not only does she look stunning! but she is super confident in the tiniest bikinis!! go her !
Okay Christie Brinkley’s body is insaaaaane, but that picture of her with her daughters is… weird. It’s like, “look at me being sexy in a string bikini with my mom.” I just… nah
Take all of the seats Kate. She and Justin V. are known for throwing fits when they don’t get their way. I can totally see this happening.
I’m surprised they’re even engaged, hell my jaw will hit the ground if they make it to the altar. Does he cheat on her? Something tells me he’s messing around on her and has been. Not really into Justin V., but if she thinks he’s not going to cheat on her once they’re wed, she’s in for a rude awakening. My advice to her would be to get herself a boytoy on the side or they have some kind of agreement that they can see other people or he can mess around whenever they’re on the road and she isn’t around.
Christie….holy crap!!! I don’t believe she’s 63, no freaking way. She looks amazing, and so do her girls, the blonde one is her clone, too funny.
In terms of Kate, ugh. I never understood the hype, and this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of her being a diva, don’t sh*t where you eat!
She literally got famous for her boobs and her boobs only. No talent there.
How can she even think she could win a cover against Serena freakin’ WIlliams?
I hate celebrities who feel like they have arrived and think they can put the foot down with whatever stupid request and people will just say yes.
The road is looooooong so you better be humble. Karma is such a bitch.
I didn’t even know she acted.+1 for Serena
She did that movie with Cam Diaz and Leslie Mann. She was the wooden matchstick lol. She’s hardly an actress. And looking at these shots of her, not much of a model either, not once she’s out of a bikini. If this is an example of her hair and make up people, she needs glasses.
Christie looks amazing! I thought the brunette on her left was Tina Fey for a hot second, lol.
Kate is boring. She hasn’t really been a hot topic for a few years now.
Alexa looks uncomfortable. May we all age as gracefully as Christie Brinkley. Wow.
May we all have such great plastic surgeons. lol
I have nothing against cosmetic surgery. I had my nose done. If I could afford it, I’d have other things done, too. Celebrities who look so great should spill as to who their doctors are.
Kate was a one-trick pony more suited to burger endorsements than high fashion, no surprise there.
edit: on second thought, she was actually more of a two-trick pony….and both tricks were on her chest. She literally had nothing else to offer as a model, I kind of agree with the ontd commenter who said she looked like a chipmunk with tits.
Those are fairly standard for a model of Kate Upton’s status, and all those conversations would have been exclusively with her agent, not her. Nearly every household name in any area of the entertainment industry has (via their agents) negotiations over these kinds of contract clauses. I’m working with a ‘national treasure’ British actor who is absolutely beloved and regarded as being super modest and “Mr Nice Guy”, which is his, but you would not believe the kinds of insane perks he demanded in his contract.
But of course when it’s a woman and a model, standard contract negotiation gets splashed all over the press as a “diva tantrum.”
And not a word about Brinkley’s nepotism in landing her two (pretty, but utterly ordinary) daughters a SI spread solely on the basis of their parentage.
I never understood why Kate Upton was a thing. She’s a pretty blond with boobs. She looks the same as 1/2 the girls in my kid’s high school. Nothing special. SI can get a lot of models to pose for them. Why would they put up with any bs from her? BTW Serena is an Amazon Goddess. Her body is phenomenal. I bow down!