Kate Upton Is Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Girl for 2nd Time

Supermodel Kate Upton now has back-to-back wins as the cover girl in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue.  The 20-year-old model first appeared in S.I.’s Swimsuit Issue in 2011 when she was named Rookie of the Year at age 18.  Since then she has been selected as the special edition’s back-to-back cover girl in 2012 and 2013, a feat not accomplished since Tyra Banks in 1996 and 1997.

This year Upton weathered the freezing elements in Antarctica this past December for her 10-day photo shoot.  A yacht ferried Upton and a crew of photographers to multiple destinations across the frozen continent for Antarctica’s first ever fashion shoot.

“It was definitely the hardest shoot I’ve ever done,” Upton told People Magazine.  “The best as well – Antarctica is one of the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to. But I’m from Florida, so it was pretty painful.”

Photo: Sports Illustrated, Derek Kettela

After the shoot Upton reportedly got “very, very sick. I don’t think you can go to Antarctica and stand in a bikini without that happening. But I didn’t die, and I’m OK now.”

How did Kate Upton’s picture get selected as this year’s cover?

“Everything about the picture is perfect,” MJ Day, editor of the Swimsuit Issue, told People Magazine.  “The light, the background, the suit. It’s different from what we’ve done in past years, and it was an exciting moment for us to have those photos work out.”

The 50th Anniversary edition of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues hits newsstands today.