Jordan Chiles used to stare into the mirror and call herself ugly. Now, she’s staring back from the cover of the 2025 “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit” issue as a symbol of resilience, self-love and body positivity.
In the early days of the swimsuit issue, the glossy cover was the domain of towering supermodels, like Christie Brinkley, Tyra Banks, Elle Macpherson and Heidi Klum. But in 1997, the magazine expanded its vision of beauty by featuring tennis great Steffi Graf, ushering in a new era where world-class athletes like Serena Williams and Simone Biles would take center stage.
Now, Jordan Chiles is the latest athlete to join that powerful legacy. With a May 17 release, she will grace the 2025 cover alongside Salma Hayek Pinault, Olivia Dunne and Lauren Chan. Chiles’ cover shoot took place in Florida, where she reportedly posed in “a brown halter-neck swimsuit from Bad N Bare."
As part of the announcement, Sports Illustrated noted, that “beyond being an incredible athlete she [Jordan Chiles] is also an advocate for body positivity and mental health and we’re beyond excited to welcome her to the to the fold in the forthcoming 2025 SI Swimsuit Issue as an athlete.”
That advocacy comes from a deeply personal place.
“I’ve embraced every single aspect of who I am, and I’ve embraced the amazing body that I have,” Chiles told People in an exclusive interview. “Because [my mom] was there when I would cry and be like, ‘Mom, they’re saying this. They’re saying that.’ Or I would look at myself in the mirror and call myself ugly almost every day.”
The moment was especially emotional for her mother, Gina Chiles, who teared up seeing the final swimsuit photos as a testament to how far her daughter has come.
“She’s been there literally every single moment,” Chiles told the outlet, “and realized how beautiful her daughter is and what I’ve gone through.”
This milestone wasn’t a lucky break — it was something Chiles manifested. Long before she was an Olympic champion or a UCLA standout, she asked a friend to take pictures of her on the beach as practice for a dream shoot with Sports Illustrated.
That dream is now a reality, and Chiles hopes her story sends a message.
“I’m doing this to show the next generation that with hard work and vision,” she told People. “Your moment will come — and you can sprint full-speed toward it.”