Drop-dead gorgeous Israeli model Bar Refaeli was just named Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition covergirl. To celebrate, she’ll be doing three days of non-stop press in New York and then she’ll fly in an airplane with her face plastered on the side to Las Vegas. The announcement was made on Dave Letterman’s show, and Refaeli did an interview with Time just after the announcement was made. She talks about the elections in Israel, her early modeling days (as a baby in a bib) and having braces. Here are some highlights:

How did they tell you that you were going to be on the cover?

They just invited me to the agency and told me I had an audition. My agent got me into his office and everyone was here, and a camera crew and posters of the cover. My first thought was just like, you know, why is this here? Why are you tricking me? I was speechless for a few long minutes. Which doesn’t happen often.

Who was the first person you told?

The first person I called was my mom, because she knew already. So I called to shout at her. She’d known for a few days. I’m like, “How can you do that?” She always tells me everything.

Is it true you’ve been modeling since you were eight months old?

Yes. Since I was 8 months old till I was 12, I did commercials and ads and cute little stuff for kids. Then I had braces on my teeth; they took them off when I was 16 and then I started modeling more seriously and doing more fashion.

What was your first job?

I don’t remember what the word is in English, but you know those things they put around babies’ necks when they eat? A bib? Those things. But the ad is still on, to this day. It’s really weird. They’re still using that 23 years later.

You’re Israeli. Are you voting in the elections?

I am in New York, so I can’t.

How do you think they’re going to go?

I actually don’t know who I would vote for. If I knew I was going to, I’d probably research more. I think I’d probably go for [Foreign Minister Tzipi] Livni, but I don’t know.

And you’re actually pictured on the side of the plane that you’re flying to Vegas in?

I’d heard that, but I don’t know, I don’t know yet. These Sports Illustrated people, they know how to hold a secret. Let’s wait and see.

Would you rather have the Sports Illustrated cover or be on the side of a plane?

Oh, Sports Illustrated. That’s something that is there forever, you know? It’s like a collector’s item. And the plane, they would take it off probably after a few days. But both are really cool.

So what are you doing next after this?

I’m shooting a show for MTV; we’re starting right after all the parties for Sports Illustrated. And then I have work, work, work, work. The show is called House of Style. They used to do it before and now they’re bringing it back. So it’s very exciting. The year hasn’t started yet and it’s already been the best I’ve ever had.

[from Time]

This girl is on top of the world right now. It doesn’t hurt that she’s also dating Leonardo DiCaprio, who has a soft spot for tall, leggy, foreign models, and is probably stocking up on the SI covers as we speak. From the interview, she also sounds like a sweet, personable girl. I am, however, a bit surprised at her lack of interest in the elections in Israel. This is not the first time she has made a political comment that has gotten her flak. In May 2008, she was quoted as saying that she didn’t regret not being drafted, and that the silliest thing she’d ever heard was the slogan, “it’s good to die for our country.” Whatever your political viewpoint, there are some very important things going on in the Middle East right now that will define what happens in the future. You’d think her publicist would have made sure she had a good answer when reporters ask her any questions about her home country – she has always been partially defined by her citizenship. It’s better for her to say something along the lines of “no comment” than sound apathetic.

Thanks to SI.com via The Blemish for these photos.