Contents

IN THE SWIM 20
by William Oscar Johnson
Over the years, swimsuits have gone from ridiculous to sublime

HOW IT ALL BEGAN 38
by Frank Deford
SI's swimsuit issue was created in 1964 to fill a winter sports gap

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! 51
by Frank Deford
Our master at combining models with swimsuits and scenery

MEMORIES

Meet the 19 women who have graced the 25 SI swimsuit covers

1964
BABETTE 59
The pixie who launched an institution
by Franz Lidz

1965
SUE PETERSON 65
She got more than a cover from her SI shoot
by Sarah Ballard

1966
SUNNY BIPPUS 71
It's always fair weather for Sunny
by Sarah Ballard

1967
MARILYN TINDALL 77
How to conquer shyness with beauty contests
by Ron Fimrite

1968
TURIA MAU 83
Hers is a "life without a problem"
by Kenny Moore

1969
JAMEE BECKER 89
A working mother keeps busy in France
by Jack McCallum

1970, '75, '83
CHERYL TIEGS 95
Now 41, and doing just great
by Curry Kirkpatrick

1971
TANNIA RUBIANO 109
A climber, a speech therapist and more
by Demmie Stathoplos

1972
SHEILA ROSCOE 115
This model was no prima donna
by Jaime Diaz

1973
DAYLE HADDON 119
Her glance could melt glaciers
by Ralph Wiley

1974
ANN SIMONTON 131
A warrior for feminist causes
by Jill Lieber

1976
THE SYLVANDER TWINS 139
Yvette and Yvonne have a unique rapport
by Bruce Newman

1977
LENA KANSBOD 149
A homemaker who wants it all
by Jack McCallum

1978
MARIA JOÃO 153
Did she use the occult to make the SI cover?
by John Maier

1979, '80, '81
CHRISTIE BRINKLEY 161
She's rich, famous and wed to Billy Joel
by Bruce Newman

1982
CAROL ALT 179
Not just a pretty face, thank you
by Austin Murphy

1984, '85
PAULINA PORIZKOVA 191
A woman who likes to say what she thinks
by Douglas S. Looney

1986,'87,'88
ELLE MACPHERSON 207
The supermodel can't see what others see in her
by E.M. Swift

UP AGAINST THE WALL 222
by Bruce Newman
For some collegians, swimsuit photographs are dorm decor

OLÉ 232
by Jule Campbell
C'mon in, the swimsuits are fine along Mexico's Pacific Coast

!HOLA! !GRACIAS! 258
by Rick Reilly
The author reveals almost all you need to know about Mexico

LETTERS, MORE LETTERS 276
by Leigh Montville
What do swimsuits have to do with sports? The mailman knows

POINT AFTER 282
by Rick Reilly
How this Roman Gabriel fan finally lost his innocence

On the cover, Kathy Ireland rests in a wading pool at the Hotel Cabo San Lucas on the Baja Peninsula. Her suit is from Half Moon ($52).

Cover photograph by Paolo Curto

ILLUSTRATION

PHOTO

MARC HISPARD

RACHEL HUNTER, AT RIGHT IN A BIKINI BY STE. JAN MARIE ($52), IS SINGIN' IN THE SUN AS SHE ROMPS WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS AT COSTA CAREYES ON MEXICO'S PACIFIC COAST