[Image: Instagram / Salma Hayek]
Salma Hayek just made her debut as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover star at 58.
Yes, fifty-eight. And honestly? She’s serving curves, confidence, and a cultural mic drop.
“I remember when I was young, a long, long time ago, I was always excited to see the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated, and [thinking] ‘Who’s going to be in it?’ Of course, I didn’t look like a model, so it never crossed my mind that one day I would be in it,” Hayek told Sports Illustrated in the May 13 issue.
Jeez, I mean she still looks more like a model than most of us ever would, but okay.
“If somebody had told me I was gonna be in it at 58, I would have sent them to the madhouse, but the world has changed, and that’s exciting.”
Now, Hayek is speeding full-throttle into icon status. She joins an elite crew of cover stars for the 2025 issue, including Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, social media gymnastics darling Olivia Dunne, and body-positive entrepreneur Lauren Chan.
Basically, Sports Illustrated is going for outdated beauty standards and torching them.
“I feel so fortunate that I am part of a generation that has been able to really experience very tangible change.”
“I could retire, but I don’t want to miss out on this time. I fought for it, you know, and I’ve been part of it, and I think it’s really remarkable that a magazine like Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] says that it’s OK, maybe even cool, to be past 50 and still be able to feel not just sexy, but for me, to be free and not be self-conscious of your body like you have to hide.”
Yep, sexy doesn’t expire, and neither does self-worth.
Hayek’s reflections hit deeper than your average swimsuit shoot. “I don’t see why, after a certain age, we have to retract ourselves from embracing life to the fullest,” she said.
And in case you’re wondering what she hopes readers get out of her cover moment? No preachy speeches, just this: “I hope that when they see the interview or see the photos, it’s a reminder for everyone that it’s so important to always just put all your effort in finding the joy in any given situation.”
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editor-in-Chief MJ Day summed it up best: “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has always been about more than swimsuits and stunning imagery. It’s about creating a platform to capture moments that define our times, celebrating people who are shaping culture, and showcasing beauty on a world stage.”
Photographer Ruven Afanador shot Hayek in sizzling style: one image shows her kneeling in a pool rocking a deep green swimsuit, gold body chain, and turquoise necklace. Another brings the heat with a mustard yellow crochet top and matching bottoms, because when Salma Hayek does “bikini at 58,” she does not miss.
The art word also seems dim in front of Salma Hayek#SalmaHayek #SportsIllustratedSwimsuit pic.twitter.com/7gh4mTfbCV
— Mostly Thighs (@thighzone_) May 14, 2025
MJ Day doubled down in a press release, calling Hayek “a force of nature as an actor, director, producer, and champion for women,” and added, “Every single woman included this year brings with her a unique and powerful reason for being featured… These women show up with passion and purpose.”
Salma Hayek is on the cover, but she is also contributing to rewriting what that cover means.
[Source: US Magazine]
