Gayle King was in for a pleasant surprise after learning that Sports Illustrated wanted her on their 60th-anniversary swimsuit issue. The 69-year-old initially dismissed the news as a prank; however, she soon posed for one of the four solo covers alongside Hunter McGrady, Chrissy Teigen, and Kate Upton.
Gayle was happy to realize she was making it to the magazine’s “inside” as the latest over 60 models like Maye Musk, Christie Brinkley, and lifestyle guru Martha Stewart did in the previous years. Gayle looked stunning in the one-piece swimwear and in a bedazzled gold dress, flaunting her glowing skin and short fringe hairstyle.
Gayle King stuns in SI Swimsuit debut at 69 years old
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Behind-the-scenes shots of Gayle’s shoot in Mexico made it to social media, featuring the TV personality in swimsuits of various colors and styles— yellow, white halter-strap one-piece, orange, and a patterned one with a matching cover-up. Fans could hardly get enough of Gayle, who oozed confidence as she flaunted her enviable body in the chic pieces.
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In the words of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit website editor-in-chief, MJ Day, the goal of the shoot was to show that “women from all walks of life must not only be seen and heard, but also celebrated.” She added that they decided to spotlight Gayle because she represents “a multifaceted woman of color” who has a good work ethic and has achieved immense success.
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Gayle’s fans had yet to recover from her breathtaking appearance at the recent MET Gala event when rollouts of her Sports Illustrated debut began to make rounds. The mother of two debuted her attendance at the high-fashion celebrity-studded event in a green single-shoulder Marchesa gown, which turned heads with its ruched detailing and thigh-high slit.
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Gayle revealed she was “stepping out of my box” and investing more in her appearance because “people see you first with their eyes.” For the CBS Mornings co-host, aging is an enjoyable experience, and “each passing year is an opportunity to look at your life and think about what’s working for you and what’s not.” She encouraged women her age via Oprah Daily to borrow a cue from her and take advantage of every minute by doing what makes them happy.