Salma Hayek’s Sports Illustrated Cover: Celebrating Body Positivity with Topless Photos
Salma Hayek encompasses a multitude of roles: she is an Oscar-nominated actress (notably the first Mexican woman to receive such recognition for her 2002 film Frida, which she also produced), a director, a philanthropist, and an activist.
Now at 58, Hayek has also made her mark as a cover model for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. She recently returned to her native Mexico for a stunning photoshoot directed by photographer Ruven Afanador, where she embodied sun goddess elegance at the luxurious Cuixmala resort.
“I’m nearly 60! At this point, it wouldn’t have even crossed my mind. The first thing that comes to mind is — what’s that term? — imposter syndrome. I immediately felt the imposter syndrome,” Hayek remarked in her cover story published online on Tuesday, May 13, with physical copies available on Saturday, May 17.
Despite flaunting a jaw-dropping figure in every bikini shot, Hayek confessed to the magazine that she had previously considered Sports Illustrated as beyond her reach. “I used to view this magazine and all the models featured were so perfect and beautiful,” she shared in the article.
Continuing her conversation, Hayek told journalist Marshall Heyman: “This was the pinnacle. It was a landmark moment for models. It represented an iconic space for ultimate beauty, even though it’s a magazine that typically wasn’t about that. Each issue was a pioneer of contemporary beauty.”
And it remains so: In recently unveiled photos, a topless Hayek is seen lounging on a cushion, adorned only with a shimmering chainlink bottom from the Torso Vintages Collection and a golden body chain by Logan Hollowell. She is also featured looking radiant in a metallic bronze Alida Herbst halter bikini and coordinating cheeky bottom.
She followed up with a montage of behind-the-scenes clips from the shoot, showing her strutting along the beach, playfully writhing in the sand, and posing topless in a swimming pool (aside from an Alémais straw sunhat and a Jacquie Aiche turquoise necklace, naturally).
Every angle highlighted her flawless figure, yet in the article, Hayek expressed that she “doesn’t identify with perfect or beautiful.” Instead, she characterized herself as “curvy” and noted, “I’m short, too.” (For clarity: Hayek stands at 5’ 1½”.) “Meeting the beauty standards of the ’90s — being skinny and tall — was unattainable for me. No matter how slim I became, I would always have curves. It’s simply who I am. I never would have imagined being a part of that category.” Or so she thought…
On Wednesday, the cover for SI Swimsuit was revealed on Instagram, featuring Hayek in a glitter-flecked green bikini by Johanna Ortiz, lounging by a pool — one of the publication’s signature settings. In classic Swimsuit fashion, the summer-ready photoshoot garnered over 840,000 likes in the first 24 hours.
Hayek also shared a series of photos and videos on her Instagram account. In one of her captions, which she wrote in both English and Spanish, she expressed her gratitude: “Thank you @ruvenafanador and @sportsillustrated @si_swimsuit for one of the most enjoyable shoots of my life and for making my wish come true to shoot in my beloved Mexico. #siswim2025 #VIVAMEXICO.
