Sports Illustrated has long stood as a beacon in literary and visual culture, delivering bold, sometimes provocative coverage of sports and the people who shape it. André Laguerre, the weekly’s Canadian editor, pressed for fearless storytelling in the sixties, embracing a bold motto that readers would not stop responding to the magazine’s voice. That era saw SI publish provocative features that challenged norms, including spreads that reimagined the traditional swimsuit narrative. Over the decades, SI’s swimsuit issue continued to push the boundaries of beauty and spectacle, earning a reputation that often outpaced many luxury calendars in its mix of athletics, fashion, and bold visual storytelling.
Six decades on, the SI swimsuit issue remains a platform where feminism and fashion intersect in powerful ways. It showcases photographers who bring professional discipline and a distinct artistic vision to the table, while also reflecting how audiences engage with images in the age of social media. The most recent cover story spotlights Martha Stewart, who will be in her mid-eighties in 2025, illustrating a postmodern take on aging, beauty, and influence. The shoot presents a contemporary portrait that respects craft, acknowledges the passage of time, and invites viewers to reinterpret attractiveness through a candid, documentary lens. In this setup, the issue becomes less about escapism and more about a nuanced conversation around presence, age, and cultural perception. It invites a wide audience to contemplate how public figures navigate image, authority, and public life without slipping into performative clichés.
Stewart, recognized for decades of public leadership, anchors the cover with a striking, executive poise that suggests opportunity rather than mere spectacle. The accompanying video and visuals reinforce a narrative of authenticity and resilience, highlighting a seasoned public figure who has balanced enterprise with public scrutiny. Against a backdrop that nods to Hispanic and Caribbean influences, the feature underscores the magazine’s broader interest in diverse cultural expressions and the politics of representation. It invites readers to consider how luxury media can engage with contemporary debates about body image, empowerment, and the evolving language of attractiveness, while staying attentive to the complex realities of public life and fame. The approach remains anchored in contemporary discourse, inviting thoughtful interpretation rather than simple sensationalism, and challenging old paradigms of what beauty looks like in the modern era.