The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is an issue published annually by Sports Illustrated magazine which features fashion models in swimsuits. It was first published in 1964 with Babette March on the cover. The issue that received the most letters was the 1978 issue with Maria Joao on the cover.  The best selling issue in its history was its 25th Anniversary Issue with Kathy Ireland on the cover in 1989.

Through the years famous supermodels have been featured on the cover such as Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, Paulina Porizkova, Elle Macpherson, Rachel Hunter, Valeria Mazza, Heidi Klum and the first and only African-American cover model Tyra Banks. Other famous models who appeared within its pages, but not on its cover, have included Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour, Angie Everhart, and Stacey Williams.

Several well-known female athletes have also appeared within the issue's pages, though not always on the cover. (We've included female athletes in a separate section.)

In the 2005 issue, Amanda Beard, Jennie Finch, Lauren Jackson and Venus Williams were featured. Anna Kournikova appeared in an inset on the 2004 cover, and had a photo spread within its pages. 18 year old Maria Sharapova appeared in an inset on the 2006 cover, and also had a spread inside the issue.

Over the last few years, various extras have been featured in the Swimsuit Issue. In 1998, athletes and their spouses started to appear in the magazine. One of the featured athletes included Wayne Gretzky with his wife Janet in a swimsuit. In 2000, the magazine was offered with 3-D glasses as some of the photos were published in 3-D. Trading cards were included with the 2005 edition of the magazine.

Cover Models by Year

• 1964 - Babette March
• 1965 - Sue Peterson
• 1966 - Sunny Bippus
• 1967 - Marilyn Tindall
• 1968 - Turia Mau
• 1969 - Jamee Becker
• 1970 - Cheryl Tiegs
• 1971 - Tannia Rubiano
• 1972 - Shelia Roscoe
• 1973 - Dayle Haddon
• 1974 - Ann Simonton
• 1975 - Cheryl Tiegs
• 1976 - Yvette and Yvonne Sylvander
• 1977 - Lena Kansbod
• 1978 - Maria Joao
• 1979 - Christie Brinkley
• 1980 - Christie Brinkley
• 1981 - Christie Brinkley
• 1982 - Carol Alt
• 1983 - Cheryl Tiegs
• 1984 - Paulina Porizkova
• 1985 - Paulina Porizkova
• 1986 - Elle Macpherson
• 1987 - Elle Macpherson
• 1988 - Elle Macpherson
• 1989 - Kathy Ireland
• 1990 - Judit Masco
• 1991 - Ashley (Richardson) Montana
• 1992 - Kathy Ireland
• 1993 - Vendela Kirsebom
• 1994 - Kathy Ireland, Elle Macpherson, and Rachel Hunter
• 1995 - Daniela Pestova
• 1996 - Valeria Mazza and Tyra Banks
• 1997 - Tyra Banks
• 1998 - Heidi Klum
• 1999 - Rebecca Romijn
• 2000 - Daniela Pestova
• 2001 - Elsa Benitez
• 2002 - Yamila Diaz
• 2003 - Petra Němcová
• 2004 - Veronica Varekova and Anna Kournikova
• 2005 - Carolyn Murphy
• 2006 - All-star Past Cover Models and Maria Sharapova