Beyoncé Makes "Sports Illustrated" History

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

14 Feb 2007 01:59 PM

If you have a brother, son, boyfriend, or husband then you know that the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is one of the most highly anticipated periodicals that graces newsstands this time of year. Each year those in the entertainment industry hold their collective breaths to see which hottie earns the coveted spot on the cover of the top-selling issue. Well, it's time to exhale-the cover was revealed today and the person on the cover came as a shock to many.

She's not a model, an athlete, or even the spouse of one. Rather, she is a singing sensation with a "Bootylicious" body worthy of the cover. Beyonce Knowles made history this year for becoming the first non-professional model to land the gig... and she says she is probably more surprised by the decision than any subscriber who receives the issue in the mail.

Knowles told reporters she had to muster up a ton courage to pose for the cover shot.

"It takes a lot of guts. I'm really a shy person," the singer says in an article that accompanies her swimsuit spread. "But in my everyday world, as a musical performer, I'm playing a character. I had to tap that same character."

The 25-year-old singer joins an elite class of other beauties who have graced the popular issue's cover, including Christie Brinkley, Elle Macpherson, Rachel Hunter, Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks. Knowles cover was a first for the magazine and the shoot itself was a first for the musician. The singer said that whereas she has been approached to pose in a swimsuit before she always declined.

"At every shoot," Tina Knowles says of her photogenic daughter, "they always bring some swimsuits and ask, 'Can we shoot in this?' It's always been 'No! When it's time to do swimsuits, it's going to be something big."

To mentally prepare for her first-ever bikini photo session, Knowles says she relaxed by listening to some of her favorite music and turned to her family and friends for support.

"Kelly Rowland (of Destiny's Child) showed up. My mom was there; my nephew," she says. "Dad was going to come, but he said, 'Well, I'll, um, meet you in Orlando after the shoot. I'm not so sure that I want to see this. All my blessings; you're a big girl. But I'm not so sure I want to see it.' "

Spoken like a true dad. But, Knowles says when it comes to showing her pictures to her future children she won't hesitate for a minute: "I can say, 'See, momma was beautiful. Look how good I looked!'"

I think she looks incredible, but wonder what if this year's move to feature a singer on the cover means we should not be surprised if an actress like Halle Berry or Jennifer Garner lands next year's cover. What do you think?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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