Love it or hate it, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition always makes a big splash — and this year is no different. The 2014 cover, which commemorates the bikini-filled issue's 50th year, was revealed on Thursday, Feb. 13, and people can't stop talking about models Nina Agdal, Lily Aldridge, and Chrissy Teigen.
The cover shot features all three ladies in nothing but super-skimpy bikini bottoms. Their backs — and butts — are to the camera, and they're looking over their shoulders and smiling while standing in knee-deep water, their hair soaking wet from the waves. The headline says "2014 Swimsuit," but bikinis are hardly the focus.
"The 2014 cover embodies the essence of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit," editor MJ Day said in a press release about the racy shot. "It is presented from a unique perspective, with a lighthearted spirit and breathtaking setting that lets the imagination run wild. This is what Swimsuit does best, and we're thrilled to see it captured in such a memorable image."
Of the women, Day added: "These are three very different models who together represent all that Swimsuit has become and will continue be: fresh, exciting, surprising, and sexy. Lily is a fashion industry star who is going to thrill an entirely new audience…Chrissy is glamorous, dynamic, and a cultural phenomenon. And Nina is a bombshell. We knew she was going to be a star from the day we met her."
Agdal, Aldridge, and Teigen couldn't be happier with the photo. And many others have praised it, as well. But some people have said that the cover — amd the Swimsuit Edition, in general — objectifies women. Even 2012/2013 cover star Kate Upton has admitted she felt "terrible" about herself after her first cover.
"Every single guy I met was either married or about to be married, and I felt like I was their bachelor present or something," she told Elle last year. "I'm not a toy, I'm a human. I'm not here to be used. I am a grown woman, and you need to figure your s–t out."
Tell Us: What do you think of the 2014 cover?
