Academy Award nominated actress Salma Hayek Pinault was revealed as one of the four cover models for the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue on Tuesday (May 13).
Hayek Pinault, 58, was photographed by Ruven Afanador in her home country of Mexico at the Cuixmala luxury resort, according to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit's feature interview.
“I remember when I was young, a long, long time ago, I was always excited to see the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated, and [thinking] ‘Who’s going to be in it?’ Of course, I didn’t look like a model, so it never crossed my mind that one day I would be in it,” Hayek Pinault said during her photoshoot. “If somebody had told me I was gonna be in it at 58, I would have sent them to the madhouse, but the world has changed, and that’s exciting.”
“I feel so fortunate that I am part of a generation that has been able to really experience very tangible change,” she continued. “I could retire, but I don’t want to miss out on this time. I fought for it, you know, and I’ve been part of it, and I think it's really remarkable that a magazine like Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] says that it’s O.K., maybe even cool, to be past 50 and still be able to feel not just sexy, but for me, to be free and not be self-conscious of your body like you have to hide.”
“I don’t see why, after a certain age, we have to retract ourselves from embracing life to the fullest,” she said.
Hayek Pinault emerged as a major star in American cinema during the 1990s with roles in Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, Dogma and Wild Wild West before becoming the first Mexican actress to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as late painter Frida Kahlo in the biographical film Frida in 2002.
“Salma Hayek Pinault is a force of nature,” said SI Swimsuit editor in chief MJ Day. “As an actor, producer, philanthropist and champion for women, Salma is a beacon for Latinx communities, a tireless advocate and a person whose passion for art, life and humanity has few rivals. Her why is rooted in her ability to inspire generations to come, by showing us all that living on your own terms is the ultimate power. She has a creative fire that lights up everything she touches. Her passion for life, for storytelling, for humanity is rare. It’s real.”
Other cover stars for the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition include Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, former LSU gymnast and three-time SI Swimsuit model Olivia 'Livvy' Dunne and three-time SI Swimsuit model Lauren Chan.