Gracing the cover of the SI Swimsuit edition is the bikini model equivalent of a comedian landing a gig on Saturday Night Live. Model elite and household names like Nina Agdal, Chrissy Teigen, and Kate Upton have had the honor of being featured on the cover of the billion dollar business that is even bigger than the sports magazine that gave birth to it.
Sports Illustrated is beginning to break boundaries with Swimsuit Edition by featuring plus-sized models in last year’s magazine and older women in issue that will be released later this month–including 56-year-old model Nicola Griffin, the magazines oldest ever featured swimsuit model.
Griffin admitted she was a bit apprehensive when she arrived on the set (a Caribbean beach), but it gave way when she was given her suit.
According to Daily Mail,
‘I was nervous because all the girls I was with were very young,’ Nicole admitted. ‘I was anxious about what they were going to do with me. And they did put me in a gold bikini! But it was fine, I had no reason to nervous.’
She also explained how her kids are handling their mother in a scantily-clad swimsuit that will surely be in the hands of their classmates immediately upon release.
‘My children can’t believe it. They text me and they’re like, “Mom, is it true?” They keep asking me to double check. They both think it’s marvelous though,’ she said. ‘Their boyfriends are so excited too, which is great. There’s a lot of giggling going on.’
Are you man enough, bros?
@CaterinaWills1 Jewellery with @AdrianDewey model Nicola Griffin #statementjewellery #maturemodel #photoshoot pic.twitter.com/BJ8fKY0P0A
— Caterina Wills (@CaterinaWills1) December 10, 2015
Here’s Nicola in the 1840s. Jk. Kinda.
Grey hair is the new blonde bros. Train’s leaving without ya.
[h/t Daily Mail]