Megan Thee Stallion makes history as first rapper to land Sports Illustrated cover
Karu F. Daniels
Megan Thee Stallion continues to make history.
The record-breaking hip hop star has become the first rapper to land a Sports Illustrated cover, appearing on the August issue of the legendary sports magazine.
Megan Thee Stallion photographed for the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Megan Thee Stallion photographed for the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
On the 58th installment of the annual swimsuit edition — on stands Thursday — Megan sizzles on the front of the magazine wearing a $40 zippered nude bikini from her new Fashion Nova swimwear collection.
The “Hot Girl Summer” lyricist, whose birth name is Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, shared the news on Instagram Monday morning.
“Thee first female rapper on the cover of @si_swimsuit,” she wrote on the social media platform. “I want to thank all the strong women in my life who inspired me to love my body and live my best hot girl life. It means the world to me to be on this cover DREAM COME TRUE!!”
Making history has become a common occurrence for the Houston native. Earlier this year, the “Savage” lyricist became the first female rapper since Lauryn Hill to take home the Grammy for Best New Artist, and her hit collaboration with Cardi B, “WAP,” instantly broke streaming records after its original release.
She is also the first woman to have three No. 1 streaming songs within the same year — those tracks being “Savage” featuring Beyoncé, “WAP,” and “Body.”
Megan Thee Stallion follows Queen Bey as the first music artist to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue since the former Destiny’s Child frontwoman did in 2007.
Naomi Osaka -- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit today announced this year’s cover models, featuring Megan Thee Stallion, Naomi Osaka and Leyna Bloom. Megan was photographed by James Macari, Leyna and Naomi were photographed by Yu Tsai.
Naomi Osaka -- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit today announced this year’s cover models, featuring Megan Thee Stallion, Naomi Osaka and Leyna Bloom. Megan was photographed by James Macari, Leyna and Naomi were photographed by Yu Tsai.
Megan, 26, joins tennis star Naomi Osaka and transgender model Leyna Bloom — featured on separate covers — for a theme centering around community.
Wearing a glossy black mesh-paneled Norma Kamali swimsuit for her cover, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion is the very first female Black athlete grace the front page.
In a video, the 23-year-old icon — whose likeness was used for a new Role Models Barbie doll that was released last week — said she was “so proud to be the first Japanese and Haitian women to grace one of the covers.”
Megan Thee Stallion is one of this year's cover models for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine. The 26-year-old rapper stuns on the cover in a beige bikini.
"Savage" rapper teases a new collection from FashionNova with a bright orange one-piece on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. "I’m working new @fashionnova dropping soon"
"Body" rapper Megan Thee Stallion strikes a pose in front of her Calvin Klein billboard on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. "I’ll be back , I’m bout to go crazy #mycalvins"
"Body" rapper Megan Thee Stallion, 25, shows off her "BODY ODY" while soaking up the sun on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020.
Megan Thee Stallion stuns on the cover of GQ's annual Men of the Year Dec. issue. The 25-year-old Rapper of the Year opened up about getting shot by rapper Torey Lanez and empowering Black women.
Megan Thee Stallion opened up to GQ about her shooting over the summer, where she alleges rapper Torey Lanez shot her in the foot while leaving a pool party. "I barely even said anything to the man who shot me when I was walking away." She went on to talk about her dedication to empower and build confidence in Black women. "I want Black women to be louder. I want us to be sassier. I want us to demand more, be more outspoken, keep speaking and just keep demanding what you deserve. Don’t change—just get better. Grow from these situations."
"Savage" rapper Megan Thee Stallion stuns in an all-black mesh bodysuit on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. "Real mf hot girl shit"
Megan Thee Stallion stunned in a blue bikini while enjoying a day out on the water on Aug. 14, 2020. The “WAP” rapper captioned her carefree photo “Real HotGirl S—t.”
"Savage" rapper Megan Thee Stallion is all curves in stunning poolside photo wearing a hot pink bikini on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. "Y’all want me to put this bikini up on my website today"
Megan Thee Stallion snaps a sultry selfie after dealing with the aftermath of being shot earlier this month. "Unbreakable"
"Savage" rapper Megan Thee Stallion snaps a selfie with her new puppy Dos Thee Stallion on June 24, 2020. "Trying to teach dos to be as camera ready as 4oe."
Megan shows off her rainbow hairdo after attending a Black Lives Matter protest on June 15, 2020. "Today was a good day #allblacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter"
Megan Thee Stallion kicks off her "Savage Summer" with a quick mirror selfie wearing a golden Fashion Nova bikini on May 13, 2020.
Megan Thee Stallion snaps a selfie with a bare-faced look on April 7, 2020, captioning it, "Quarantine megs."
The Texas-born rapper struck a pose with her "lil model," her puppy Foe Thee Stallion, on Feb. 13, 2020.
Jon Batiste, Paloma Elsesser, Michael B. Jordan, Megan Thee Stallion and Miles Chamley-Watson attend the Coach 1941 fashion show during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 11, 2020, in New York City.
"I’m sorry the person you are trying to reach is unavailable," the rapper captioned this sass-filled selfie while in New York City on Feb. 9, 2020.
Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage during the EA Sports Bowl at Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest on Jan. 30, 2020, in Miami, Fla.
(L-R) Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion attend "Birds Of Prey": A Night Of Music And Mayhem In HARLEYWOOD at DREAM Hollywood on Jan. 23, 2020, in Hollywood, Calif.
Megan Thee Stallion kicks off the New Year alongside Beyoncé Carter-Knowles and Blue Ivy on Jan. 1, 2020.
Megan Thee Stallion (C) performs onstage during Billboard Women In Music 2019, presented by YouTube Music, on Dec. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Megan Thee Stallion attends A Celebration of The Fearless Women in Music Hosted by YouTube Music and Megan Thee Stallion at Spring Studios on Dec. 11, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on Nov. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020 Hollywood Party on Nov. 23, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif. The show airs December 31.
Megan Thee Stallion performs during the Astroworld Festival at NRG Stadium on Nov. 9, 2019 in Houston, Tex.
Megan Thee Stallion attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2019 at Cobb Energy Center on Oct. 5, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage at the BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Center on Oct. 5, 2019, in Atlanta, Ga.
Kehlani (L) and Megan Thee Stallion attend Rihanna's 5th Annual Diamond Ball Benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on Sept. 12, 2019, in New York City.
Megan Thee Stallion performs on the red carpet during the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on Aug. 26, 2019, in Newark, N. J.
Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on Aug. 26, 2019, in Newark, N. J.
(L-R) Megan Thee Stallion, Kehlani and Ciara attend Beautycon Festival Los Angeles 2019 at Los Angeles Convention Center on Aug. 11, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Spotify Celebrates Megan Thee Stallion's new album on May 16, 2019, in Houston, Tex.
Bloom also makes history as the magazine’s first transgender cover model of color.
“Among the many things we’ve learned over the past 18 months is how much we value being a part of a community, and how much we miss that interaction when it’s taken away,” Sports Illustrated editor MJ Day said with Monday’s unveiling of the cover images. “This issue represents the culmination of a powerful community — coming together during challenging times to make history.”
