On Monday night, at a taping of the CBS show, The Late Show with David Letterman, this year’s cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition was released. The girl on the cover is 19-year-old Kate Upton.
Across from the Ed Sullivan Theater, in Manhattan, Sports Illustrated released a billboard secured the coveted cover spot in only her second year, was named ‘Rookie of the Year’ last year.
The other handful of models from the magazine who appeared along with Upton on the show include: Julie Henderson, Jessica Gomes, Ariel Meredith, Alyssa Miller, Chrissy Teigen, Genevieve Morton, Izabel Goulart, Jessica Perez and the cover model from last year, Irina Shayk.
This year’s edition of the swimsuit issue will be read by over 70 million people in print, on iPhones, tablets and on the internet. Some of the former cover models include Elle MacPherson, Cheryl Tiegs, Kathy Ireland, Tyra Banks, Christie Brinkley and Brooklyn Decker. Tabloids have put Upton and New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez in a romantic relationship but that has not been confirmed.
Upton has appeared on the MSG Network and became a sensation on YouTube after she was seen doing the ‘Dougie’ at a Los Angeles Clippers game. Prior to modeling, Upton was a competitive equestrian. She describes herself as the ‘next great supermodel’ on her website.
There are three male athletes in this year’s edition. They include Chris Paul from the NBA, Rafael Nadal from tennis, and Michael Phelps from the Olympic Games. There are three female athletes in the issue who are in the body paint section. They include Natalie Gulbis, the LPGA pro; Natalie Coughlin, an Olympic swimmer; and Alex Morgan, a U.S. soccer player.