Salma Hayek Covers Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Source: Ruven Afanador for SI / Ruven Afanador for SI

This year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover went to rising stars like gymnasts Jordan Chiles and  Livvy Dunne and model Lauren Chan, but the most surprising addition was Salma Hayek.

The Mexican-born actress was photographed in her home country by Ruven Afanador. Set at the Cuixmala luxury resort, Hayek explains how much gracing the cover of SI Swimsuit always meant to her, but she never expected to receive the honor just shy of 60 years old.

“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 Pinault said. “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.”

Source: Ruven Afanador for SI / Ruven Afanador for SI

Starting in the 1990s, she made her name for herself in the States with roles like Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn, she’s since turned into a successful producer and women’s rights advocate. She’s also married to François-Henri Pinault, the son of billionaire François Pinault, who founded Kering, which owns luxury brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Balenciaga.

But still, that sex symbol label is just as present as it was 20 years ago when she flooded People’s ’50 Most Beautiful People’ list, Maxim’s Hot 100, and FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World list.

Now, with showing off her body in the SI Swimsuit edition, she’s embracing it all and letting other ladies her age know life doesn’t end once you turn 50. 

“I feel so fortunate that I am part of a generation that has been able to really experience very tangible change,” she said. “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 O.K., 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.”

She proves it in a series of shots of her lying on the sandy beaches of Mexico, under a water fountain, posing from behind, and topless in a pool.

Check out the entire gallery of all Hayek’s bikini shots from her SI Swimsuit cover below.

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