NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hailey
Clauson, Ashley Graham and
Ronda Rousey are the 2016 Sports
Illustrated Swimsuit cover models; each gracing their own
individual cover which were unveiled during a first of its kind
broadcast special on TNT earlier this evening. The 2016 SI Swimsuit
multiplatform launch across print, digital (www.si.com/swimsuit),
mobile and NYC Fan Festivals are set for Monday, February 15.
This is the first time SI Swimsuit has produced multiple covers
of its Swimsuit edition. On the decision to go with an
unprecedented three individual covers, SI Swimsuit Editor MJ Day
said: "What defines beauty today? The truth is, times have changed
and one size does not fit all. Our position on beauty is well
known—healthy, curvy, vivacious and bold. It's not a size. The
three cover models—Hailey Clauson, Ronda
Rousey and Ashley Graham—demonstrate that…. So we don't
have just one cover, because beauty doesn't take just one
form."
All three are making their first cover appearance and each
commented on the honor moments after finding out together earlier
this evening:
Hailey Clauson said, "I'm
shaking and crying. I love it so much because it represents three
different strong and beautiful women."
Ashley Graham said, "I'm
insanely speechless. I cannot comprehend how I feel right now. This
will go down in the books forever. It is a historic moment. Not
only is this the first time that I'm in the issue, but I'm on the
cover and sharing this honor with two of the most stunning women.
This is for all the women who didn't think they were beautiful
because of their size. This is for them."
Ronda Rousey said, "It's a
real honor being part of such a historic issue that really pays
homage to different body types of women and not promoting just one
cookie cutter image for every woman, but showing that the
healthiest version of every body type is the sexiest version out
there. And I couldn't be happier...I think I was just as
honored to get it as to be there in person to watch Ashley's
reaction (laughs)."
Clauson, Graham and Rousey join the ranks of fashion,
entertainment and business titans Kathy
Ireland, Elle Macpherson,
Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Kate
Upton, Chrissy Teigen, and
Christie Brinkley who have appeared
on the SI Swimsuit cover. This is the 52nd edition of SI
Swimsuit which now reaches 70MM U.S. adults – more 18-34 year old
men than the Super Bowl via print, digital, mobile products and
consumer events.
SI Swimsuit 2016 was produced entirely on island destinations
around the world, including the Dominican
Republic, Tahiti, Malta and
Zanzibar. Rousey's cover was shot in the Bahamas by Frederic
Pinet and features the cultural phenomenon wearing
a body paint swimsuit. Clauson and rookie Graham were
both photographed by James Macari on
location in Turks & Caicos.
The issue boasts an extraordinarily diverse cast of models that
includes accomplished authors, advocates, actors, world champion
and Olympic athletes. They represent some of the most powerful
brands (including themselves) in the world, and the group includes
five returning cover models -- including one, Irina Shayk, who is
celebrating a decade shooting with SI — and five
"rookies" making their first ever Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit appearance. The full cast of Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit 2016 models includes: Nina Agdal, Lily Aldridge, Rose
Bertram, Kate Bock,
Hailey Clauson, Hannah Davis, Emily
DiDonato, Hannah Ferguson,
Ashley Graham, Gigi Hadid, Erin
Heatherton, Samantha Hoopes,
Chanel Iman, Bo Krsmanovic, Robyn
Lawley, Tanya Mityushina, Barbara Palvin, Sofia Resing, Kelly
Rohrbach, Ronda Rousey, Irina
Shayk, Chrissy Teigen, Lindsey Vonn and Caroline Wozniacki.
Beginning Monday, 2/15, the new issue will be available on
newsstands and the content will be accessible on the brand new
SI Swimsuit App as well as on SI.com/swimsuit and on tablet
editions of the magazine. For the first time ever this year, SI
Swimsuit is honoring its tradition of innovation to
present a suite of virtual
reality experiences taking viewers inside the iconic
photo shoots of some of the world's top models in some of the
most exotic locations on the planet.
A series of immersive VR content featuring former
Swimsuit cover models Nina Agdal, Irina Shayk and Hannah
Davis will be available at launch in the new SI Swimsuit
App along with thousands of photos, videos and stories.
Tonight's first-of-its-kind broadcast event on TNT
introduced the new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers to the world
and to the models themselves who were surprised on set. The
festivities were hosted by Nick
Cannon and Rebecca Romjin and included more than 20 2016
Swimsuit models in attendance, along with a performance by NE-YO
and the presentation of the Jule
Campbell Award to model/entrepreneur Elle Macpherson.
Cover photo credits: James
Macari/Sports Illustrated (Graham and Clauson); Frederic Pinet/Sports Illustrated (Rousey)
ABOUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT:
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit franchise (www.SI.com/Swimsuit)
reaches more than 70 million US adults annually and more men 18 to
34 than the Super Bowl. The iconic franchise spans 20 product
extensions along with a vibrant experiential marketing business.
Since debuting in 1964 Swimsuit has become a pop-culture phenomenon
and a revered launching pad for successful careers in TV, fashion,
business and film including those of Elle
Macpherson, Kathy Ireland,
Cheryl Tiegs, Tyra Banks, Heidi
Klum, Kate Upton, and
Chrissy Teigen. Further, the fashion
industry describes SI Swimsuit as the "Oscars of Swimwear," as an
appearance in the issue is a crowning achievement for swimsuit and
accessory manufacturers.
SI Swimsuit is part of Time Inc. Time Inc. (NYSE: TIME) is one
of the world's leading media companies, with a monthly global print
audience of over 120 million and worldwide digital properties that
attract more than 150 million visitors each month, including over
60 websites. Our influential brands include People, Sports
Illustrated, InStyle, Time, Real Simple, and Southern Living, as
well as more than 50 diverse titles in the United Kingdom.
Website: www.si.com/swimsuit/2016
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/SIswimsuit
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SISwimsuit
Twitter: twitter.com/SI_Swimsuit
Instagram: www.instagram.com/si_swimsuit
Snapchat: 'siswim'
Official Hashtag: #SiSwim
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SOURCE Sports Illustrated