Salma Hayek Pinault, Jordan Chiles, Olivia Dunne, and Lauren Chan have been chosen as cover models for Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Swimsuit issue. The issue will be available on May 17, showcasing 38 women from various backgrounds and talents. Photographer Ruven Afanador captured Hayek Pinault, Ben Horton photographed Chiles, and Ben Watts shot Dunne and Chan.
The photoshoots occurred in stunning locations such as Bermuda, Jamaica, Zurich, Switzerland, Fort Worth, Texas, and Cuixmala in Mexico. MJ Day, editor in chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, said, “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has always been about more than swimsuits and stunning imagery. It’s about creating a platform to capture moments that define our times, celebrating people shaping culture, and showcasing beauty on a world stage.
The issue will be celebrated with various experiences in New York City, including throwing the first pitch at a Mets game, lighting the Empire State Building, and hosting a red carpet event.
SI Swimsuit will also introduce a members-only pop-up experience called The Social Club, featuring live shows. Hillary Drezner, general manager of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, said, “At SI Swimsuit, we’re redefining what it means to be a legacy brand in today’s media landscape. With the expansion into digital covers, year-round events, and dynamic partnerships with brands like Coppertone, MINI, and Batiste, we’re creating more meaningful, culturally relevant moments than ever before.”
The 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue aims to provide visually stunning content and stories of empowerment and cultural significance that resonate with its dedicated audience.
Hayek Pinault graces SI cover
Salma Hayek Pinault, photographed in Mexico by Ruven Afanador, discussed embracing her authentic self at 58 years old. “I remember when I was young, a long, long time ago, I was always excited to see the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated, and [thinking] ‘Who’s going to be in it?’ Of course, I didn’t look like a model, so it never crossed my mind that I would be in it one day,” Hayek Pinault shared on location.
“If somebody had told me I was gonna be in it at 58, I would have sent them to the madhouse, but the world has changed, and that’s exciting.”
Hayek Pinault, a human rights advocate passionate about helping women and immigrants, sees her success and freedom as something she has worked hard for and wants to enjoy. “I feel so fortunate that I am part of a generation that has been able to really experience very tangible change,” she continued. “I could retire, but I don’t want to miss out on this time.
I fought for it, you know, and I’ve been part of it, and I think it’s remarkable that a magazine like Sports Illustrated says that it’s OK, maybe even cool, to be past 50 and still be able to feel not just sexy, but for me, to be free and not be self-conscious of your body like you have to hide.
MJ Day, SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief, praised Hayek Pinault, saying, “Salma Hayek Pinault is a force of nature. As an actor, producer, philanthropist, and champion for women, Salma is a beacon for Latinx communities, a tireless advocate, and a person whose passion for art, life, and humanity has few rivals. Her success is rooted in her ability to inspire generations to come by showing us all that living on your own terms is the ultimate power.
She has a creative fire that lights up everything she touches.”
Hayek Pinault added, “I hope that when they see the interview or the photos, it’s a reminder for everyone that it’s so important to always just put all your effort in finding the joy in any given situation.”
