When Sports Illustrated’s famous swimsuit edition launched in 1964, there was nothing sexier than a woman in a demure white two-piece – breasts fully covered, of course.
Fast-forward 50 years and the magazine’s cover girls don’t tend to bother with bikini tops at all, preferring to cover their assets with elaborate necklaces or coquettishly crossed arms.
We look back at how the idea of what is sexy has changed in the past five decades.
The idea of “sexy” has changed a lot in 50 years of covers from the famous magazine.
1964: On the Cover: Babette March Photographed by: J. Frederick Smith
1965: On the Cover Sue Peterson photographed by: Jay Maisel
1966: On the Cover: Sunny Bippus Photographed by: Howell Conant
1967: On the Cover: Lynn Tindall Photographed by: Jay Maise
1968: On the Cover: Turia Mau Photographed by: John G. Zimmerman
1969: On the Cover: Jamee Becker Photographed by: Ernst Haas
1970: On the Cover: Cheryl Tiegs Photographed by: Jay Maisel
1971: On the Cover: Tannia Rubiano Photographed by: Robert Huntzinger
1972: On the Cover: Sheila Roscoe Photographed by: John G. Zimmerman
1973: On the Cover: Dayle Haddon Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
1974: On the Cover: Ann Simonton Photographed by: Jay Maisel
1975: On the Cover: Cheryl Tiegs Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
1976: On the Cover: Yvette and Yvonne Sylvander Photographed by: Kourken Pakchanian
1977: On the Cover: Lena Hansbod Photographed by: Art Kane
1978: On the Cover: Maria Joao Photographed by: Walter Iooss, Jr
1979: On the Cover: Christie Brinkley Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
1980: On the Cover: Christie Brinkley Photographed by: John G. Zimmerman
1981: On the Cover: Christie Brinkley Photographed by: John G. Zimmerman
1982: On the Cover: Carol Alt Photographed by: John G. Zimmerman
1983: On the Cover: Cheryl Tiegs Photographed by: Walter Iooss, Jr.
1984: On the Cover: Paulina Porizkova Photographed by: Paolo Curto
1985: On the Cover: Paulina Porizkova Photographed by: Brian Lanke
1986: On the Cover: Elle Macpherson Photographed by: Brian Lanker
1987: On the Cover: Elle Macpherson Photographed by: Brian Lanker
1988: On the Cover: Elle Macpherson Photographed by: John G. Zimmerman
1989: On the Cover: Kathy Ireland Photographed by: Paolo Curto
1990: On the Cover: Judit Masco Photographed by: Robert Huntzinger
1991: On the Cover: Ashley Montana Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
1992: On the Cover: Kathy Ireland photographed by Ronald Huntzinger
1993: On the Cover: Vendela Kirsebom Photographed by: Paolo Curto
1994: On the Cover: Kathy Ireland, Elle Macpherson and Rachel Hunter Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
1995: On the Cover: Daniela Pestova Photographed by: Mike Reinhardt
1996: On the Cover: Valeria Mazza and Tyra Banks Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
1997: On the Cover: Tyra Banks Photographed by: Russell James
1998: On the Cover: Heidi Klum Photographed by: Robert Erdmann
1999: On the Cover: Rebecca Romijn-Stamos Photographed by: Antoine Verglas
2000: On the Cover: Daniela Pestova Photographed by: Robert Erdmann
2001: On the Cover: Elsa Benitez Photographed by: Stewart Shining
2002: On the Cover: Yamila Diaz-Rahi Photographed by: Jeff Bark
2003: On the Cover: Petra Nemcova Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
2004: On the Cover: Veronica Varekova Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
2005: On the Cover: Carolyn Murphy Photographed by: Jeff Olson
2006: On the Cover: Veronica Varekova, Elle Macpherson, Rebecca Romijn, Rachel Hunter, Daniela Pestova, Elsa Benitez, Carolyn Murphy, and Yamila Diaz-Rahi Photographed by: Raphael Mazzucco
2007: On the Cover: Beyoncé Photographed by: Cliff Watts
2008: On the Cover: Marisa Miller Photographed by: Raphael Mazzucco
2009: On the Cover: Bar Refaeli Photographed by: Raphael Mazzucco
2010: On the Cover: Brooklyn Decker Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
2011: On the Cover: Irina Shayk Photographed by: Bjorn Iooss
2012: On the Cover: Kate Upton Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.
2013: On the Cover: Kate Upton Photographed by: Derek Kettela
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