While basking in applause and waves of admiration, Salma Hayek is sharing the chaotic, complicated—but ultimately magical—story behind her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover. Her shoot involved 200 swimsuits, a missing suitcase, and even a surprise appearance by a whale.
First things first: she looks stunning. At 58, Salma Hayek continues to redefine what it means to age gracefully. Her radiant figure—partly thanks to genetics—is also the result of years of discipline and dedication.
But even a global icon has her doubts. During her appearance on NBC's Today Show, Hayek admitted she nearly turned down the opportunity.
"I live with imposter syndrome," she confessed, referring to the nagging feeling that one doesn't deserve success or recognition.
"I told them I didn't have the right swimsuits, so it wouldn't be possible," she added. But Sports Illustrated wasn't taking no for an answer. The team responded by sending her over 200 swimsuits to choose from, including custom options designed just for her.
Feeling more prepared and confident, Hayek thought she was ready—until fate stepped in. Her suitcase went missing, and nature added its own twist in the form of an unexpected whale sighting. Yet somehow, everything aligned.
The result? An unforgettable photoshoot that captures not just her beauty, but her strength, vulnerability, and sense of wonder.
A magical photoshoot in Mexico
The swimsuits never arrived and she had to do the photo shoot (because with Salma Hayek's work ethic she would never say it wasn't done) with some spare ones that the magazine team had brought, just in case.
Keeping in mind that they didn't fit perfectly, the feeling of discomfort returned, but when she was experiencing her worst moment of insecurity, she saw a whale in the sea. "No one even captured it on camera, because it was just a moment and they were just setting up the equipment to begin, but I understood that what I was experiencing was magical and that I had to enjoy it," she said.
In fact, she recalled, "I always dreamed of having that opportunity, but when I was young, they never chose women like me." She was referring to celebrities with curvy bodies and brunettes. "Women in my era also thought we'd be out of the woods (Hollywood and magazine covers) after 35," she added.
"I feel very fortunate to be part of a generation that has been able to experience very tangible changes," she said in her interview with SI . "I could retire, but I don't want to miss this moment. I fought for this, you know? I've been a part of it, and I find it really extraordinary that a magazine like Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] says that it's okay—maybe even cool—to be over 50 and still feel not just sexy, but, in my case, free and not ashamed of your body, like you have to hide it."
