CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King is sporting a bathing suit and “tasteful cleavage” in the newest issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.
The nearly 70-year-old television personality said she never in her “wildest dreams” thought it would be possible to be a model on the cover.
King will featured in the 60th anniversary Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, set to come out Friday.
King’s morning show co-hosts surprised her Tuesday with the announcement that she would be on the cover of the magazine.
King was thrilled and shocked with delight as she looked at the cover.
“I’m on the cover? They just told me I was going to be on the inside,” she cheered.
King’s morning television show shared a report on the evolution of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover.
“This ain’t your dad’s Sports Illustrated,” King is seen saying in the news report as she posed for the magazine’s photographer.
“It certainly isn’t,” a CBS reporter narrated over a montage of King taking photographs for the magazine.
The latest issue of the magazine has been spearheaded by its editor-in-chief, MJ Day.
“I want the world to realize that Sports Illustrated has evolved into such a far more wide-reaching powerful vehicle of change,” Day said.
The CBS reporter detailed the evolution of the magazine over time.
“Over the years, the issue has transformed to include women from sports, news, and entertainment, representing different races, ages, and body types,” the reporter said. “From the magazine’s first transgender cover model, Leyna Bloom, to Halima Aden, the first woman wearing a hijab, and this year, our very own Gayle King.”
In a later segment on CBS Mornings, King spoke to her co-hosts, alongside television host Drew Barrymore, about being featured on the cover.
“It’s really extraordinary that they only reserve that for deserved people that they think are exemplary role models of women,” Barrymore said to King and the panel of co-hosts. “And sure, some of it is sexy and scantily clad. But it is a moment of true empowerment.”
Barrymore added, “I think the magazine and the world also shifted into talking about: What is beauty? Who is beautiful? Who deserves to be on this cover, other than bathing suit aspects? This is a whole new era of Sports Illustrated.
“And you are the exemplary person that they chose to be the hot, beautiful woman to celebrate,” she said joyfully to King.
King chimed in, “I don’t know about beautiful!”
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The morning show host humbly told her fellow hosts on Tuesday that she knows what she looks like when she goes into hair and makeup but feels “honored to be included” in the issue.
Martha Stewart, 82, had previously been photographed for the 2023 issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and will be seen in more photos in the special 60th anniversary issue this week.
