Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2014: The Biggest Production In Franchise History In Honor Of Its Golden Anniversary

A Tribute to the Swimsuit Legends, More Models than Ever, Kate Upton Defying Gravity, the Great Jersey Shore and more!

SI Swimsuit Also Announces a Partnership with Petra Nemcova's Happy Hearts Fund

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Feb 18, 2014, 05:44 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit @SI_Swimsuit has created its boldest production ever. With a cover featuring Nina Agdal, Lily Aldridge and Chrissy Teigen, this year's Swimsuit honors the Legends, delivers the most models ever including a record number of rookies, takes Kate Upton to space (wink wink), heads to the Jersey Shore and much, much more. The Golden Anniversary #SISwim50 production is now live across the Web, mobile, tablet and newsstands, featuring the largest Swimsuit Issue since 1989, more than four hours of video and thousands of photos. You can also follow Swimsuit during launch week on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65723-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-2014-50th-anniversary-full-issue

Said Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editor MJ Day: "This is by far the most exciting production we have created. For our fans that have followed Swimsuit's evolution, I know they will love this as much as I do. We had the incredible opportunity to feature models that have created the legacy of this franchise and models that will continue to enhance it. The 50^th Anniversary production had to be special; it had to transcend anything we've done before and everyone's imagination, and I think we did just that."

The Legends: Twenty two of the most renowned cover model Legends came together for an extraordinary gathering of beauty and glamour, shot by Walter Iooss Jr. and captured by SI Productions. Carol Alt, Tyra Banks, Elsa Benitez, Christie Brinkley, Brooklyn Decker, Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Rachel Hunter, Kathy Ireland, Heidi Klum, Babette March, Marisa Miller, Carolyn Murphy, Petra Nemcova, Daniela Pestova, Paulina Porizkova, Bar Refaeli, Rebecca Romijn, Irina Shayk, Cheryl Tiegs, Kate Upton, Vendela and Veronica Varekova are all featured in a once-in-a-lifetime editorial package. Swimsuit is also pleased to announce a partnership with Legend, Petra Nemcova, to support Happy Hearts Fund. SI will be announcing several events and opportunities to support the Fund, the first of which includes the opportunity to win an exclusive trip to a 2015 Photo Shoot; see link here.

How do you top Antarctica? Defy gravity. Last year, SI and Upton made history with a photo shoot in Antarctica. This year's adventure tops that as Swimsuit presents Upton floating in a weightless environment. The journey saw she and a group of SI Swimsuit editors, photographers and videographers take off in a specially modified Boeing-727, known as G-FORCE ONE^®. The plane performed a series of 17 parabolas – 13 zero gravity and four replicating lunar gravity – creating a weightless atmosphere in which photographer James Macari and SI productions captured unprecedented images and video.

New Jersey and You, Perfect Together: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit took a drive to the New Jersey Shore for a special production that shines a light on the beauty of the area previously devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Shoot locations included the beaches, boardwalks and attractions of Cape May, Seaside Heights, and Point Pleasant.

The big names are back. Fan favorites, Natasha Barnard, Kate Bock (Rookie of the Year 2013), Hannah Davis, Emily Didonato, Jessica Gomes, Ariel Meredith, Genevieve Morton, and Anne V all play starring roles this year.

The Rookies: Swimsuit welcomes its largest rookie class ever, including cover model, Lily Aldridge. The twelve new models posed in locations from the scintillating beaches of St. Lucia (bodypainting) and Brazil, to the Jersey Shore. Hannah Ferguson, Samantha Hoopes, Lauren Mellor, Emily Ratajkowski, and Cris Urena are also featured in recreations of classic Swimsuit covers in the famous body paint section.

Athletes and more. Swimsuit continues the tradition of featuring world class athletes, as pro surfer Anastasia Ashley, WNBA player Skylar Diggins and returning for her second appearance American soccer player and Olympic gold medalist, Alex Morgan are all featured.

The locations and models for Swimsuit 2014 included:

Brazil – Natasha Barnard, Anne V, Bregje Heinen*, Valerie van der Graaf*
Cook Islands – Kate Upton, Nina Agdal, Chrissy Teigen, Lily Aldridge*
Guana Island, BVI – Anastasia Ashley, Skylar Diggins, Alex Morgan
Los Angeles – Heidi Klum
Madagascar – Chanel Iman*, Irina Shayk, Jessica Gomes, Marloes Horst*
New Jersey – Hannah Davis, Gigi Hadid*, Sara Sampaio*
New York City – SI Swimsuit Legends
St. Lucia – Emily Ratajkowski*, Hannah Ferguson*, Cris Urena*, Samantha Hoopes*, Lauren Mellor*
Switzerland – Kate Bock, Emily Didonato, Ariel Meredith, Genevieve Morton
Zero-G (Florida) – Kate Upton

*denotes Rookies

ABOUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (SI.com/Swimsuit) franchise reaches more than 62 million people annually, and more men 18 to 34 than the Super Bowl. The iconic franchise now spans more than 20 product extensions in digital social, broadcast, publishing, mobile and consumer products, along with supporting a vibrant experiential marketing business. Since debuting in 1964 Swimsuit has become a pop-culture phenomenon and an established launching pad for successful careers in TV, fashion, business and film including those of Kathy Ireland, Cheryl Tiegs, Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum. All of Swimsuit's product extensions are built upon a heritage of amazing photography and footage of gorgeous models and athletes from the most exotic locations in the world.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65723-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-2014-50th-anniversary-full-issue

SOURCE Sports Illustrated