BAR REFAELI ADORNS THE COVER OF THE 2009 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE
The 2009 Issue Features 33 Models, 7 Countries and 83 Bikinis;Super Models, Rookie Models, WTA Tennis Stars, NBA Dancers and The World’s Fastest Woman Danica Patrick! The 46th Annual Swimsuit Issue Will Be Read By A World-Wide Audience of 66 Million
(NEW YORK, February 10, 2009) – From the beach on Canouan Island in the Grenadines, supermodel Bar Refaeli graces the cover of the highly anticipated 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue on newsstands today. Refaeli, a three-year veteran of the Swimsuit Issue, is the first Israeli model to land the cover of the coveted magazine. Photographer Raphael Mazzucco, who also photographed the 2008 cover of Marisa Miller, captured the cover photo during a two-day shoot with Refaeli on Canouan Island in the Grenadines.
The 2009 Swimsuit Issue takes a journey to four countries with ancient cultures and pillars of modern beauty and makes stops in Naples, Italy; Cappadocia, Turkey; Riviera Maya, Mexico; and Tenerife, Canary Islands. The cover of the iconic magazine is billed, Bikinis or Nothing, and showcases a photo of Brooklyn Decker displaying a map of the world – in only paint!
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, a staple of American popular culture, will reach an audience of more than 66 million and there will be more than 350 million page views on SI.com/swimsuit.
Three smashing tennis players – Tatiana Golovin, Daniela Hantuchova and Maria Kirilenko – make their Swimsuit debut in the Dominican Republic with SI legendary photographer Walter Iooss Jr. The magazine also features 10 NBA dancers representing Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers.
“This issue brings together all of the elements that make SI Swimsuit Issue the most anticipated magazine in the world every year,” said SI Group Editor Terry McDonell. “The photography is perfect, the locations make you want to go there yourself and the models are full of surprises.”
OFF WE GO: Brooklyn Decker, Jarah Mariano, Bar Refaeli, Hilary Rhoda, Jessica White bring their distinct vibe to Canouan Island, in the Grenadines, the first stop on the ’09 Swimsuit tour.
NAPLES: The Swimsuit odyssey continues to mystical lands where Roman, Mayan and Ottoman cultures once flourished, and to volcanic islands that were stepping stones to the New World. Amid treasures of the past are found pillars of modern beauty with Esti Ginzburg, Daniella Sarahyba and Irina Shayk.
CAPPADOCIA: While eyeing a landscape marked by fairy chimneys, underground cities and colorful bazaars, consider the charms of Lucia Dvorska, Julie Henderson, Damaris Lewis and Anne V.
BODY PAINTING: Take a guided tour of ancient civilizations that is anthropological, archaeological and topographical. It’s fascinating …really. Artiste extraordaire Joanne Gair explains the history behind her latest masterpieces on Brooklyn Decker, Julie Henderson, Irina Shayk and Jessica White.
TENERIFE: On this rocky and rockin’ archipelago off of Africa, bikinied Cintia Dicker, Jessica Gomes and Tori Praver bring the magma to a boil.
RIVIERA MAYA: Surrender yourself to the new conquistadoras – Kim Cloutier, Melissa Haro, Jessica Hart and Ariel Meredith – who stormed this lush coastal paradise and, not surprisingly, encountered little resistance.
DAN PATRICK BRINGS BROOKLYN IN DA HOUSE: Four-time SI Swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker dishes on modeling, her man and men in Speedos with SI’s own Dan Patrick.
| 2009 SI SWIMSUIT MODELS | 2009 PHOTOGRAPHERS |
| Kim Cloutier (cloo-tee-ay) | Marlena Bielinska (Bell – Lin – Ska) |
| Brooklyn Decker | Steve Erle |
| Cintia Dicker (sin-tia) | Walter Iooss Jr. |
| Lucia Dvorska (Lu-ch-ia Dvor-ska) | Matt Jones |
| Esti Ginzburg (ginz-burg) | Rennio Maifredi |
| Jessica Gomes (Go-mms) | Raphael Mazzucco |
| Melissa Haro (har-o) | John Peden |
| Jessica Hart | Riccardo Tinelli |
| Julie Henderson | Yu Tsai |
| Damaris Lewis (da-maris) | |
| Jarah Mariano (Jar-a) | |
| Ariel Meredith | |
| Tori Praver (Pray-ver)Bar Refaeli (Ra-fii-l-e) | |
| Hilary Rhoda (road-a) | |
| Daniella Sarahyba (dan-YELL-uh sara-YEE-buh) | |
| Irina Shayk (eh-REE-nuh sh-ake) | |
| Jessica White | |
| Anne V (Anne-vee) |