55 STARS WHO STARTED OUT IN PORN
55 Celebrities Who Started Off as Adult Film Stars
Fame in Hollywood doesn’t happen overnight. For most actors, their early years are filled with worries about making it big in the industry — jobs are scarce and inconsistent, which makes for a lot of money worries. So really, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that countless Hollywood stars turned to adult films during those times when money was tight.
These hard times were usually toward the beginning of their acting career, but some stumbled upon the industry out of pure chance. Or in some cases, they just did it because they were good at it. A few stars were recruited off the street by modeling companies and seedy magazines! And if there’s one X-rated-to-Hollywood star you need to know about, it’s Traci Lords. We can’t make her story up! For the Friends fans, Matt Leblanc’s story is a must-read. Not only is it surprising, but there’s a 99.9% chance it will set your heart aflame.
Some just made a video to pay the bills, while others had a respectable career in this world before moving to more mainstream entertainment. Whatever the reason, these 55 stars dabbled in the world of adult entertainment at some point in their illustrious careers.
Cameron Diaz
Love her or hate her, Cameron Diaz has been a Hollywood mainstay for years at this point. But before her fame, Diaz starred in an adult film. The world will probably never see it, though, because she bought the rights to it with her earnings from the 1994 film The Mask. She later commented to Vogue: “If you are a woman who’s been labeled as a sex symbol… inevitably you get to a point when you are no longer a sex symbol… that’s where I think a lot of women get in trouble.”
Ironically, Diaz starred in a 2014 comedy Sex Tape, which required a few nude scenes. “People have seen my butt. I’ve shown the top of my butt, the bottom of my butt,” she told Marie Claire. “I’m not opposed to doing nudity, as long as it’s part of the story. I’ll do whatever has to get done if it’s the right thing.”
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
There’s no Arnold Schwarzenegger sex tape floating around on the internet, and for that, we should all be grateful. However, before this body builder-turned-actor-turned-politician hit the big times, he did take some risque shots for a pornographic magazine. After Dark, the magazine in question, has featured quite a few big names over the years.
After Dark only lasted a few years because of fierce competition from other big-name (and more explicit) magazines. It was originally marketed as an entertainment magazine covering everything related to performance art with the first issue releasing in May 1986. Compared to competitors, After Dark‘s website claims it placed a “greater emphasis on quality writing,” though there was “plenty of skin on show” after Louis Miele took over the editorship.
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Matt Leblanc
Matt Leblanc may forever be known and remembered as Joey from Friends, but his beginnings as an actor were a bit more sultry. The actor took an opportunity in the early ’90s to be featured in The Red Shoe Diaries, a premium cable show that straddled the line between drama and porn.
Funnily enough, Leblanc almost wasn’t an actor at all, even in adult films! During an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, he surprised audiences with claims he almost became a carpenter. “Everyone in my family goes to work with some kind of tool in their hands,” he said. I made a complete kitchen and installed it in a house.” In fact, he dropped out of school for carpentry because he already knew all of the practical skills, and the rest is history!
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Shu Qi
Lin Lui-hi AKA Shu Qi made her big-screen debut as Lai Kwai in the 2002 film The Transporter. She was among the best-paid models in Tawain in 2014, but before her big break, she was no stranger to the world of adult entertainment. She has appeared in Chinese editions of both Penthouse and Playboy.
Aside from explicit films like Sex & Zen II, she portrayed a performer in the industry for the 1996 film Viva Erotica, which focused on Hong Kong’s erotic film industry. Because of this film, Qi won an award for Best Supporting Actress at the 1997 Hong Kong Film Awards.
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David Duchovny
You might know him as Fox Mulder from the X-Files, but before he was chasing aliens, David Duchovny dipped his toes into the waters of adult entertainment. He starred in the same early-90s Showtime series as Matt Leblanc,The Red Shoe Diaries. While it was technically billed as “erotic drama” it was little more than softcore porn.
Director of the series Zalman King has fond memories of working with Duchovny on the series, telling an interviewer for DVDtalk Geoffrey Kleinman that he’d “for sure” work with him again. As for how Duchovny even began hosting the show, King said, “I did a movie first which will be coming out on DVD Soon, which was the original Showtime movie, which launched the Red Shoes Series, and he played the main character in that, and I contracted with him to be the host of the series.”
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Sasha Grey
Sasha Grey was a big figure in the adult film industry of the early 2000s, and she used that fame to break into mainstream acting as well. Her credits include both television (Entourage) and movies (The Girlfriend Experience). She rode the new technological wave that created an entirely new and convenient way to experience adult content. The Economist reported that the industry’s revenue skyrocketed to around $40-$50 million during the 2000s!
Out of the biggest stars on the early 2000s online platforms, Sasha Grey is at the top. Her first film, Fashionistas Safado: the Challenge, released in 2006 and instantly set the tone for the rest of her X-rated career after asking her costar to punch her “in the stomach.” Well, that’s an interesting way to get your name out there. In fact, she won an award for Female Performer of the Year in 2008, emphasizing how influential she was during her five years performing.
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Sylvester Stallone
Before the fame of the Rocky franchise, Sylvester Stallone was a young actor down on his luck. Facing homelessness, Stallone starred in the adult film The Party at Kitty and Stud’s. This movie was later renamed Italian Stallion, to piggyback off the notoriety of Stallone’s role as boxer Rocky Balboa.
The softcore romance film was released in 1970 and marketed as a romance. Directed by Morton Lewis, The Party was actually Stallone’s first lead role! Apparently, the famous actor only worked on the film for two days, was paid a heft sum of $200, and went his own way. Seems to have worked out in his favor!
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Spalding Gray
Spalding Gray’s acting credits paint a picture of an accomplished actor. He’s done movies. He’s done TV. And, strangely, he’s done porn. Before his career really began to take off in the ’80s, he starred in a number of adult films in the late ’70s. Some fans remember him for his autobiographical monologues while certain fans remember… other things.
More than anything, Gray is remembered for his stark honesty. The Huffington Post analyzed his personal journals and monologues, revealing just how much fear consumed his life. “I felt a slight feeling of loss and bitterness that these people were using me as their jester,” Gray wrote in 1979 seemingly in reference to his work as an actor. In a tragic turn of events, Gray went missing in January 2004 and was pronounced dead two months later after his body was found in New York’s East River.
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Jon Hamm
Best known for his award-winning performance as Don Draper in the period drama Mad Men, Jon Hamm’s acting career began with him waiting tables and taking up odd jobs, as cliché as it sounds. One of those jobs was working as a set designer for an unnamed softcore pornography movie.
In August 2009, Hamm told Elle magazine that the softcore gig was his ultimate “low point” in his early career. “I’m, like, $150 a day? I will totally do that…. But it was soul-crushingly depressing,” he lamented. “There was no actual [sex], but it was so sad; the actors were dead but they were trying their best. I was like, Man, this can’t… be it.”
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Riley Steele
Riley Steele is another adult film star to make the jump to mainstream movies, but only barely. While she is probably most well known for her work in the porn-themed Pirates of the Caribbean spoofs, she also had a role in Piranha 3D, which we guess is technically a legit acting credit? But honestly, porn is more reputable than that terrible series of movies.
Born in California, Steele got her start in the performance industry working at Starbucks and a snack bar like most amateur actresses in Hollywood. She then met Jesse Jane in 2005 who led Steele to the world of pornography, but Steele wouldn’t be convinced until a few years later. But once she signed with Digital Playground, her life changed forever.
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Francois Sagat
French actor Francois Sagat is no stranger to the world of porn — he’s starred and directed in numerous adult films. So many that there are too many to list here. But this X-rated reputation doesn’t mean he’s a stranger to the world of mainstream movies, sporting roles in films like Saw IV and Man at Bath.
As one of the top gay actors in the industry with a one-of-a-kind scalp tattoo, he’s come a long way since his first performance at age 25 under the pseudonym Azzedine. He switched to his birth name after transferring his practice to the U.S. and shooting his first film there Arabesque. Sagat retired from pornography in 2017 but made a brief return to film a Justice League parody.
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Sibel Kekilli
During the early seasons of Game of Thrones, Sibel Kekilli made a name for herself as the character Shae, a prostitute and handmaiden. But before this rise to stardom, she starred in several adult films in her home country of Germany. Her past came to light in 2004 when she starred in the film Head-On.
Kekilli was a porn star for around six months with the stage name Dilara, but she kept that stage of her career private until it was released by the media after her Head-On success. Her father told Bild, “The disgrace is too great for the family… I can never forgive her for it. I don’t want to ever see her again.” Harsh, much?
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Jackie Chan
We all know Jackie Chan from his iconic performances in numerous Kung Fu movies, but even this martial arts master found himself on tough times early in his career. In the ’70s, Chan starred in a Hong Kong-based comedy porn called All in the Family. Sounds like a weird combo, but you know you want to see it.
Chan admitted to this early-career appearance, telling HYPE he’s never regretted his decision. “I had to do anything I could to make a living 31 years ago, but I don’t think it’s a big deal, even Marlon Brando used to be exposed in his movies. The porn movie at that time was more conservative than the current films.”
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Robert Kerman
Robert Kerman AKA R. Bolla is no stranger to fans of horror movies — he’s had roles in classics such as Cannibal Holocaust and The Goodbye Girl. a minor role in Spider-Man. But he also had a prolific adult film career that’s equally iconic, if not more so, with his credits including the infamous adult film Debbie Does Dallas.
According to The Rialto Report, Kerman profited greatly from his porn career, claiming that he rose to fame during the industry’s “golden age” in the ’70s and ’80s. During these decades, Kerman starred in around 250 pornographic films but sorely regrets it. “In retrospect, I’m really sorry that I did it,” Kerman told Channel 4, “because I probably ruined the best years of my life as an actor.” Even so, he was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 1998.
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Traci Lords
Traci Lords has starred in numerous cult classics, like Serial Mom and Blade, but she’s probably most infamous for appearing in Penthouse magazine when she was only 16. After that, she went on to star in numerous adult films like What Gets Me Hot! in 1984 as well as appearing in the magazines Velvet, Juggs, and Club.
Lords starred in some of the first porn films during the industry’s “golden age,” was hailed as the “Princess of Porn,” and made more than $1,000 per day as the best-paid sex performer ever. But her career in the industry wasn’t made to last as she transitioned to mainstream acting in the late ’80s.
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Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum is basically synonymous with 2012’s Magic Mike for many Gen X and Millennial women, but that’s not the only place he purposefully flaunted his abs for a sultry set. In fact, the film was directly inspired by Tatum’s early days as a male stripper in Florida. That gig only lasted eight months before he decided he’d rather model with his clothes on.
The plot of Magic Mike features Tatum as the lead character Mike who is a young dancer taken under the wing of an experienced performer to learn how to “hustle on and off the stage.” That same year Tatum — appropriately — won People magazine’s yearly award for the “Sexiest Man Alive.”
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Kim Kardashian
We probably don’t need to spell out Kim’s rise to fame. Out of everyone on this list, no one should be more grateful to the world of porn than Kim Kardashian. It’s literally the only reason she is famous. After her sex tape with then-boyfriend Ray J was “leaked”, her hit reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, followed shortly behind.
Kim sued Vivid Entertainment for distributing the tape as Kim Kardashian, Superstar, but she later settled he later dropped the suit and settled for $5 million that allowed Vivid to release the tape. The Kardashians profited greatly from the tape and were criticized for the so-called publicity stunt, but the family didn’t seem to care. Kim later went on to pose nude for a December issue of Playboy.
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Simon Rex
Simon Rex has done a little of everything. He’s an actor, a rapper, a comedian, a model, was an MTV VJ in the ’90s, and unsurprisingly dabbled in the adult entertainment realm early in his career. Before his rise to stardom, Rex appeared in several solo scenes with the stage name “Sebastian.”
First working as a nude model for Brad Posey’s Club 1821, he transitioned to the three X-rated films. According to Vulture, he took the parts “to pay for rent and food for his girlfriend’s 2 year old son.” Soon after, he was recruited by a casting director and began modeling mainstream for Calvin Klein, Versace, and Levi’s. Plus, we can’t forget his professional acting gigs in What I Like About You, the Scary Movie franchise, and National Lampoon.
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Adam West
Adam West was Batman for an entire generation of kids in the ’60s, but in the ’80s he had roles in a number of softcore films. That being said, his roles were all non-sexual, but it’s still bizarre to think of the Caped Crusader popping up at all in soft porn.
While he never appeared in a completely X-rated film, his version of Batman did! The character was parodied in 2010 and became the top bestselling superhero porn parody ever on Adult Empire. West probably doesn’t want to be remembered by this spoof, but it happened anyway.
(Image via Sony Pictures Television)
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Paris Hilton
Socialite. Model. Businesswoman. Heiress. Porn star? How did “New York’s leading It Girl” turn global superstar in two years? Right after her TV show The Simple Life alongside Nicole Richie first aired, the leaked sex tape “1 Night in Paris” with ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon solidified Paris’s fame forever.
Paris wasn’t particularly thrilled about the video and was caught in a suing battle with Saloman for two years. In 2006, Paris told British GQ, “I never received a dime from the video. It’s just dirty money and [Salomon} should give it all to some charity for the sexually abused or something. To be honest, I don’t even think about it anymore.”
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Kevin Costner
Though billed as an “independent film,” the 1986 movie Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. was little more than softcore porn — starring Kevin Costner. That’s right, before his hit films Dances with Wolves, The Untouchables, No Way Out, and Field of Dreams, Costner got his start with a skin flick!
IMDb describes the movies as, “A fabulous Malibu beach house is the setting for sin in sun, as a trio of lovely ladies find love in Los Angeles over one sizzling summer.” Alternatively named Hot Malibu Summer, the movie was filmed in the winter of ’78, ironically enough. Plus, many fans don’t realize that Sizzle was his debut film. In fact, most resources that list his filmography cite The Touch from 1983 as his first film appearance.
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Ron Jeremy
In terms of porn stars, not many names are as recognizable as Ron Jeremy. And it’s this fame that has allowed him to break into the world of mainstream movies. Granted, he’s playing a fictionalized version of himself most of the time, but you can still catch him in films like Ghostbusters and Boondock Saints.
Unfortunately, Jeremy is infamous for much more than his films. In September 2021, USA Today reported that 21 women testified against Jeremy for “using his fame” to “lure” and “rape” his accusers. Jeremy was originally arrested back in January 2020 and eerily echoes the ongoing Harvey Weinstein scandals that began a few years prior.
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Heather Rae Young
Before she became a Netflix star on the hit reality TV show Selling Sunset, Heather Rae Young did her fair share of modeling for Playboy. In fact, she was awarded the title of Playboy Playmate of the Month in February 2010 before moving on to star in mainstream films like Love in the Time of Monsters and Christmas in Compton.
A few of her roles in films were NSFW. In the 2013 comedy The Internship, she starred in the role “Exotic Dancer #2” during a strip club scene. Two years later, she was featured in the TV-MA documentary Playmate Playback as herself. The purpose of the series was to “meet the latest Playmates of Playboy like never before.” Funnily enough, she’s made a bigger name for herself as a real estate agent for luxury L.A. pads over her time as a sultry star.
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Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe never bore it all for a movie, but during a period when she was on the decline, she did appear in nude photos for a magazine. While her on-screen persona was limited to the dumb blonde trope, that wasn’t the reality. Scholar Sarah Churchwell claims, “The biggest myth is that she was dumb. The second is that she was fragile. The third is that she couldn’t act. She was far from dumb… [and] such a good actress that no one now believes she was anything but what she portrayed on screen.”
Plus, nobody can forget her performance of “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” for JFK’s birthday on May 19, 1962, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The song itself wasn’t the source of awe, however, because she drew more attention from her form-fitting beige dress that appeared nude. The moment has been parodied and referenced in countless shows, films, and specials over the years, including the 2012 series Smash.
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Kristine DeBell
Many of you may not know that mainstream actress Kristine DeBell first entered the acting industry after closing out her modeling career with Ford to star in the 1976 hardcore musical comedy reinterpretation of Alice in Wonderland at 22 years old. She subsequently posed on the ’76 cover of Playboy as well as the Playboy pictorial for “200 Motels, or How I Spent My Summer Vacation.”
But DeBell didn’t make a name for herself until she officially moved into mainstream Hollywood filmmaking. From comedies like Meatballs alongside Bill Murray to playing Jackie Chan’s partner in Battle Creek Brawl, she managed to scrub her reputation clean from adult entertainment and advertise herself as a classy professional actress.
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Kim Basinger
Kim Basinger was an international sex symbol of the ’80s and ’90s after starring in the late ’70s three-part NR-rated miniseries remake of From Here to Eternity as a prostitute who engages in an affair with one of the leading characters Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt. But what really got audiences talking was her leading role in the cult-classic 9 1/2 Weeks.
Anyone who’s seen the erotic drama knows that the nudity is slim but the sexual themes are heavy throughout every scene. And despite telling historian Victoria Sherrow that she “couldn’t stand” modeling, she both starred in the film Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold and actually posed nude for Playboy in 1981. But we can ignore her cringe-worthy performance in the 2017 adaptation of E.L. James’s Fifty Shades Darker…
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Julie McCullough
Best known for her role in the TV show Growing Pains as nanny Julie Costello, actress Julie McCullough dabbled in erotic modeling and sexploitation filmography before launching her mainstream career. Shortly after graduating from high school, McCullough was approached to pose for Playboy, subsequently appearing in four issues as well as on the cover of other magazines as a swimsuit model.
Plus, McCullough voiced the tutorial guide in the video game sponsored by Playboy titled Playboy: The Mansion. As for other mainstream roles, she appeared in Beverly Hills, 90210; Jake and the Fatman; Harry and the Hendersons; and Drexell’s Class. Plus, she currently works as a stand-up comedian, performing regularly at the Laugh Factory and similar establishments.
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Perrey Reeves
Entourage actress Perrey Reeves is another actor featured in the Playboy Entertainment erotic drama the Red Shoe Diaries. While she only appeared in one episode and didn’t have to go “all the way” in terms of bearing it all like some of the other actors, Reeves did appear topless throughout the scene.
Among other facts that you might not have known about Reeves, she moved to Costa Rica in 2012 to start a yoga retreat called The Sanctuary at Two Rivers. She’s been a yoga practitioner since the early ’90s and is particularly interested in Ayurveda, which is a form of alternative medicine. We’re not saying she fled to Costa Rica because of Red Shoe Diaries, but we also don’t have evidence against it either.
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Anna Nicole Smith
What a surprise! Anna Nicole Smith started her career in adult entertainment? We’re shocked! All jokes aside, Anna Nicole Smith is one of the celebrities on this list who was very publicly involved in pornographic modeling from the start. In 1993, she won Playboy‘s “Playmate of the Year” award and launched her modeling career.
From Guess and H&M to Heatherette and Lane Bryant, Smith was a successful model but couldn’t replicate the same success into the acting realm. Her leading role in the ’96 direct-to-video film Skyscraper could have been her big break but it was no more than “soft-core exploitation.” Tragically, Smith died in Hollywood in early 2007 from an accidental overdose.
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Chyna
Joan Marie Laurer AKA Chyna has worked in everything from professional wrestling and modeling to bodybuilding and porn. You heard that last part correctly. First garnering fame in the world of WWE wrestling, the company claims she left “a lasting legacy as the most dominant female competitor of all time.”
Aside from revolutionizing WWE, Chyna was also considered a sex symbol in the early 2000s. She modeled for Playboy twice and starred in five X-rated films after a sex tape with wrestler Sean Walman was released in 2004. Playing off Paris Hilton’s infamous tape, it was dubbed 1 Night in China, becoming AVN’s best-selling title in 2006.
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Helen Mirren
From the stage to the big screen, Helen Mirren has done it all. And we mean everything. Not only is she the only person to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting in both the US and the UK, but she dabbled in the realm of adult entertainment with roles in Caligula and the film Hussy.
If you know anything about Caligula, Mirren isn’t shy about baring it all onscreen. Caligula is an excessively erotic historical drama produced by the magazine Penthouse. Mirren told People, “Everyone was naked in that. It was like showing up for a nudist camp every day. You felt embarrassed if you had your clothes on in that movie.”
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Katie Morgan
Katie Morgan first entered the adult entertainment industry after being arrested for smuggling 100 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. in 2000. Those charges resulted in a hefty bail and plea bargain; thus, she turned to porn to pay off her debts. Her first appearance was in the 2001 Dirty Debutantes 197.
According to the 2003 HBO documentary Katie Morgan: A Porn Star Revealed (2005), Morgan revealed that she chose the pen name “Katie Morgan” because of Gone with the Wind and the rum Captain Morgan’s. Morgan retired from the industry in 2008 for talk show hosting gigs and traditional acting, but returned to shooting after seven years.
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Tom Hardy
Black Hawk Down, Inception, and Band of Brothers star Tom Hardy has been nominated for countless mainstream Hollywood acting awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, a couple Critics’ Choice Awards, some British Academy Film Awards, and the 2011 BAFTA Rising Star Award. Unfortunately, Hardy struggled with substance abuse as a young adult, which led him down a few difficult paths.
After rehab, Hardy landed a spot on The Big Breakfast’s Find Me a Supermodel in 1998 and won the competition! As a prize, he worked with Models for a brief time before landing his first major mainstream role in Band of Brothers. In 2006, he starred in the British comedy Scenes of a Sexual Nature playing the character Noel who is tricked by Anna (played by Sophie Okonedo) into thinking they would have sex, but he’s left abandoned, embarrassed, and pants-less. And don’t forget his iconic MySpace profile that includes quite a few NSFW pics from his modeling days.
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Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield got an early start in the entertainment industry world through beauty pageants and a few on-stage productions of Death of a Salesman and Anything Goes. But her name wasn’t recognizable until Hugh Hefner started Playboy in ‘53 and Mansfield won Playmate of the Month in ‘55, launching her modeling career. Soon, she embarked into mainstream films, stripteasing at nightclubs, and three tumultuous marriages.
In 1963, Mansfield became the first American actress to appear nude in a mainstream Hollywood role for Promises! Promises! Although the movie was banned in Ohio and resulted in Chicago taking Hugh Hefner to court for publishing on-set photographs of her, Mansfield’s career only improved after release. She also guest-starred in the documentary Spree AKA Las Vegas by Night where she stripped and sings the song “Promise Her Anything” from Promises!
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Ursula Andress
Swiss actress Ursula Andress is a sex symbol of the ’60s, famous for a few mainstream acting roles such as in Dr. No, the first James Bond film. Before this breakthrough success, however, Andress struggled to be cast in Hollywood. After failing to land any roles for seven years, she got the part of Honey Ryder and became an international phenomenon as the first Bond girl. As recorded by Quirk Books, she credits her white bikini for her fame: “This bikini made me into a success.”
While Ursula starred in countless mainstream films, she also made a name for herself in adult entertainment. She appeared in multiple Italian “sex comedies” like Sex with a Smile II and The Sensuous Nurse. Playboy also published nude pics from the set of Nightmare in the Sun in 1965. She modeled for the magazine seven times over fifteen years and never regretted it, telling the Los Angeles Times she did it “Because I’m beautiful.”
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Carol Lynley
Carol Lynley isn’t known for posing nude or reciting sultry scripts, but she did manage to score a Playboy photoshoot in 1965 despite glares from critics. “I did it because I wanted to,” Lynley told Sheilah Graham, a gossip columnist. “I wanted to do it so much that I wouldn’t even take the money. I didn’t wear a stitch and I felt wonderful all over.”
Lynley began her career at 15 as a model, so she wasn’t shy about showing off. At least with her Playboy shoot, she was able to control how much of her body the world could see, yet it doesn’t always work out that way. According to some sources, a video of Lynley was leaked of her strip-dancing, which we’re certain she didn’t intend on the world getting a hold of.
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Margot Kidder
Margot Kidder always wanted to be an actress. At 14 years old after being dumped by her boyfriend, she turned to acting. According to an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, Kidder believed a life on the big screen would let her “real self out… and no one would know it was me.” Soon enough, she did become an actress!
With an illustrious acting career spread across five decades, the late actress was best known for her starring role as Lois Lane in the four original Superman films. But before Lois Lane, Margot was a mere low-budget actress and appeared in the ’75 issue of Playboy under the condition that she wrote her own feature article. Later in ’79, she landed lead roles for the cult-classic horror film Amityville Horror, which featured a nude scene or two that was later cut from the final film.
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Kira Reed
Ever since childhood, Kira Reed has been passionate about acting. By 10 years old, she was regularly acting in commercials and scoring modeling gigs. By the time she grew up, Reed became a successful producer, writer, and TV host for a slew of productions, including film projects sponsored by Playboy.
She reported and produced a series on Playboy TV called Sexcetera as well as producing the second season of the 69 Sexy Things 2 Do Before You Die. Before Playboy, Reed starred in the erotic series the Red Shoe Diaries and The Prince of Desire. She also participated in mainstream TV, including ER, NYPD Blue, and The War at Home.
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Marilyn Chambers
Marilyn Chambers was graciously dubbed “porn’s most famous crossover” due to her seamless transition from adult entertainment to mainstream films. She’s most famous for her debut hardcore adult film Behind the Green Door in 1972, but she actually broke into the industry a year before when she appeared nude in the film Together after working as an exotic dancer and topless model.
At first, Chambers was hesitant to participate in porn because she feared it would ruin her chances in mainstream Hollywood, but she managed to become successful in both realms. After acting during the “Golden Age of Porn” and making it to #6 of the Top 50 Porn Stars of All Time, she broke into mainstream acting like she always dreamed for Rabid and a couple of on-stage productions. Eventually, she returned to porn with the hit film Insatiable and even ran for vice president!
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Nick Manning
Nick Manning isn’t a stranger to the world of adult films — in fact, he was inducted to the AVN Hall of Fame in 2014! The Chicago native is not only a pornographic actor but a director as well. His first appearance on screen was in adult entertainment, but he also appeared in the reality show Hogan Knows Best early on in his career.
His mainstream film appearances include Thrills and the TV show The Fugitive. On top of that, he played a male porn star in the 2009 film Crank: High Voltage, which allowed him to appear in Showtime’s Beach Heat and land his first lead role in a mainstream film for Cherry Bomb.
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Teri Weigel
Teri Weigel weaseled her way into every realm of adult entertainment, including acting in pornography, modeling nude, mainstream fashion, and posing as a Playboy Playmate. Weigel embraced modeling from an early age when she appeared in the Saks Fifth Avenue catalog, which helped her transition to the cover of Playboy in 1985.
As for Weigel’s filmography, her first included numerous Playboy videos. She was the first Playmate to transition to porn, which (ironically) terminated her relationship with Playboy and isolated her from the rest of her family. Mainstream, she had minor roles in Predator 2, Cheerleader Camp, Savage Beach, Night Visitor, Married… with Children, Marked for Death, and Inferno.
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Bree Olson
Bree Olson is one of the few former adult entertainers on this list who criticizes the time she spent in the industry. Olson began acting in adult films in 2006 for Digital Playground, Red Light District Video, and Elegant angel as well as performing on contract for lingerie company Adam & Eve. She officially retired from shooting pornography in 2011 and since went on to harshly criticize the profession.
Because Olson performed in over 280 pornographic movies, she knows all about the stigma that goes with the work. She tried breaking into mainstream entertainment with appearances on Keeping Up with the Kardashians as a nanny who gets fired on her first day as well as in various films including Purgatory Comics and The Human Centipede 3.
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Stormy Daniels
Stormy Daniels didn’t rise to mainstream fame through Hollywood cinema but in the infamous very public scandal involving former U.S. President Donald Trump and his attorney Michael Cohen. Trump and his team claim that Daniels is a fraud, yet it’s not hard to believe that a president would pay $130,000 in hush money to cover up an affair.
Before the scandal, Daniels was primarily known for her work as a pornographic actress and director. She began her career as a stripper at just 17 in Baton Rouge. Daniels was recruited into adult entertainment while working as a stripper, leading her to work for Wicked Pictures and appear in American Girls Part 2 for Sin City.
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Jenna Jameson
Jenna Jameson is one of the most well-known adult entertainers in the industry. Not only has she been dubbed the world’s most famous porn actress but she managed to snag the title “The Queen of Porn.” Using a fake I.D., she started stripping in Vegas in 1991 while still in high school!
Since the peak of her adult film career, Jameson wrote her 2004 autobiography How to Make Love Like a Porn Star, attempted business ventures like the adult site ClubJenna as well as an explicit video game. Jameson appeared in Eminem’s music video “Without Me” as well as for Howard Stern’s semi-autobiographical movie Private Parts.
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Jesse Jane
Now-retired adult entertainer Jesse Jane lept into the industry by contacting Digital Playground directly for an audition after reading about fellow porn actress Tera Patrick. Jane was quickly signed by the company and subsequently secured nominations for countless awards for her appearances in No Limits, Beat the Devil, Pirates, and hosting Playboy TV’s Naughty Amateur Home Videos.
Jane’s mainstream film appearances are slim but she managed to be featured in a few hits from Starsky & Hutch and Desensitized to The Bad Girls Club. More successfully, she officially became a businesswoman after launching her own line of sex toys while working with Digital Playground. Jane is now retired.
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Ginger Lynn
Ginger Lynn was one of America’s leading porn actresses during the “Golden Age of Porn” in the ’80s. Because of her success in the industry, AVN placed her at #7 on the list of the greatest porn stars of all time. And once she retired from pornography, she changed her name to Ginger Lynn Allen to appear more palatable for mainstream Hollywood.
While Lynn never managed to land a lead role in a blockbuster film, she did secure many minor roles for Young Guns II, True Hollywood Story, American Pie: Band Camp, 31, and The Devil’s Rejects. After this brief stint in Hollywood, she returned to adult entertainment with Torn and was a host of Playboy‘s Night Calls Radio.
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Ashlyn Gere
For some, Ashlyn Gere is known for her roles in The X-Files and Space: Above and Beyond. For others, she’s one of the most popular porn stars of the ’90s after the “Golden Age of Porn” was on its way out. In the industry, Gere won every award from FOXE and XRCO to AVN but later retired from video performances to be an exotic dancer.
Aside from The X-Files and Space: Above and Beyond, Gere appeared as Kim McKamy in Evil Laugh and Creepzoids then as a body double for the ’92 movie Basic Instinct and the ’93 film Indecent Proposal. Her mainstream films might not have garnered as much attention as her B movies, but Gere doesn’t seem too bothered by the difference.
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Bridget Powers
Bridget Powers AKA Powerz, born with dwarfism (which makes people and animals appear exceptionally smaller than normal), worked as an erotic film actress since getting discovered at a goth nightclub and making her first film in ’99. Over the course of her career, she’s appeared in over 70 full-length adult films — 110 when including compilation videos.
Powerz left the industry after suffering sexual misconduct with male actors who would practice stealthing, which is when someone removes a condom during sex without consent. Instead, she set up her own video website and acted in the mainstream films 8mm, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.
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August Ames
Mercedes Grabowski AKAK August Ames is best remembered for her work as a Canadian pornographic actress, appearing in nearly 290 films across her career. On top of being nominated for many official AVN Awards, Ames appeared in a non-pornographic mainstream film Model for Murder: The Centerfold Killer in 2016.
Unfortunately, Ames’ life ended quite tragically. Keeping her history of bipolar depressive disorder and dissociative identity disorder, she was a long-time victim of depressive episodes that left her bed-ridden for weeks on end. In 2017, Ames committed suicide after publishing a tweet broadcasting her decision to withdraw from a porn shoot because her male co-star shot gay porn.
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Brittany Andrews
Slightly resembling supermodel Bella Hadid, Brittany Andrews is a jack of all trades in the Hollywood entertainment industry. She began her career in beauty supplies before becoming a renowned exotic danger. From Huster photoshoots to film producing and D.J. jobs, Andrews earned her spot in the AVN Hall of Fame.
Andrews officially began work in pornography when she met fellow actress Jenna Jameson in 1995 while shooting for Hustler. After a few decades in adult entertainment, Andrews retired from the industry for mainstream pursuits, such as attending the New York Film Academy and starring in the short film Crumble. She quickly returned to adult film for Sex and the City: A XXX Parody and Playboy TV shows.
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Jessie Andrews
Much like Brittan Andrews, retired porn actress Jessie Andrews is also a renaissance woman in Hollywood. From acting and designing to producing, modeling, DJ-ing, photography, and business ventures, Andrews deserves every award she received. While working from 2010 to 2015, she secured several Best New Starlet awards and various other nominations, including for her performance in Portrait of a Call Girl.
Andrews is one of the few adult actresses to successfully make a name for herself in mainstream acting after GQ and Hypebae bestowed her the “It Girl” title. She quickly abandoned mainstream acting for a lucrative modeling career that led her to music production and work in the fashion industry.
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Candye Kane
Candice Caleb — professionally known as performer Candye Kane — is best remembered for her work as an adult film actress before transitioning into a musical career, like blues singing. She began her adult career during the Golden Age of Porn in the early 1980s but quickly left the industry to establish her award-winning music career.
Candye Kane identified herself as openly bisexual, often appearing and performing at gay pride festivals. Sadly, Candye Kane passed away from pancreatic cancer due to a neuroendocrine tumor back on May 6, 2016, at only 54 years old. She established herself as a respectable performer and musician while alive, winning various honors for her music, including Best International Blues Chanteues, Artist of the Year, and Best Swing-Cabaret Artist.
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Sunny Leone
Now considered a notable model and actress for American and Indian productions, Sunny Leone was once a prominent performer in adult entertainment. Named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003 (weird name, but whatever) and performed for Vivid Entertainment up to 2010. During those years, she rose through the ranks of porn stars, landing a top 12 spot.
After appearing in her first Bollywood film — erotic thriller Jism 2 — Leone officially transitioned away from pornography into mainstream acting in 2013. She announced to MTV, “I am lucky that the audience is accepting me. I have come my way from [porn industry]. I don’t have any plans as of now to go back there.”
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Jill Kelly
Aside from acting in, producing, and directing pornography films, Jill Kelly has appeared in over 50 mainstream B movies, including Big Sister 2000, He Got Game, and The Legend of the Roller Blase Seven. But it’s no secret that Kelly’s best known for her work in pornography as she was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.
As one of the industry’s top stars, Kelly managed to jumpstart her own production company appropriately titled Jill Kelly Productions (JKP). Despite filing for bankruptcy in 2005, Penthouse paid millions to acquire its assets and essentially save her from embarrassingly tarnishing her reputation. Fun fact: Kelly identifies openly as bisexual!
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Monique Alexander
Monique Alexander currently works as a pornographic actress on top of nude modeling and various activist pursuits. From sex education to free speech, Alexander routinely appears on Fox News to push her activism forward despite obviously working in an ongoing pornography career. However, she has appeared in mainstream films such as Spider’s Web and the HBO series Entourage.
Alexander began her work in adult entertainment as an 18-year old stripper in Sacramento, California. Not exactly the best path for a teenager, yet she chose the career out of desperation to support herself while working as a receptionist. In 2011, she starred in her first erotic film with a lesbian scene. This scene launched her career as an exclusively “girl-girl” actress before transitioning to acting with both genders in 2005. In 2002, she was a Trophy Girl for the AVN Awards held in Las Vegas.
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AuthorRon WinklerLast Updated: November 26, 2024
The Most Iconic Sports Illustrated Covers of All Time
Sports Illustrated has been a staple in the sports world since its first issue premiered in 1954. Since then, some of the most iconic athletes (and swimsuit models!) have made history on the cover of this important publication. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the best and most important covers of Sports Illustrated issues–these are the ones to hold on to if you’ve still got them lying around somewhere!
February 19, 1981 (Christie Brinkley)
Christie Brinkley is another icon of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit world, and in 1981 she made history with the magazine. This appearance made her the first model to appear three consecutive times on the cover.
Christie Brinkley is a model and actress who was the face of CoverGirl for 25 years. She also starred in the film National Lampoon’s Vacation had appearances on The Cosby Show, Mad About You and The Goldbergs.
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June 15, 1998 (Michael Jordan)
Michael Jordan appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated several times in his career, but the June 1998 cover is probably the most exciting of his appearances. This issue appeared shortly before his second retirement from basketball in 1999.
Michael Jordan is one of the most prolific basketball players of all time. He has played 15 seasons in the NBA and won six championships altogether. His celebrity status got him his own Nike sneaker line, Air Jordan, and his own Looney Tunes film, the 1996 film, Space Jam.
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February 16, 2007 (Beyonce)
Beyonce isn’t an athlete or a swimsuit model – yet the iconic singer still managed to find her way onto the cover of Sports Illustrated. She may not be an official model, but she definitely knows how to wear a bikini as her 2007 Sports Illustrated cover showed us all.
Beyonce has achieved legendary status as a singer, actress and entertainer. She rose to fame as part of the group Destiny’s Child which was active from 1997 to 2002. Now she is going it all alone and is more popular than ever before. And through multiple business ventures, including a fashion line, she’s become a real entrepreneur.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
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January 20, 1964 (Babette March)
The official Swimsuit Edition of Sports Illustrated wouldn’t be invented for another few decades, but 1964 marked the first time a woman appeared in a swimsuit on the cover of the magazine. The woman on the cover was German model Babette March.
Babette March was allegedly the highest-paid model of her time, earning $86,000 per year in the mid-1960s. She was also active in the celebrity scene, partying with people like Andy Warhol and Mick Jagger. Sher retired from acting in 1976.
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February 13, 1984 (Paulina Porizkova)
Model Paulina Porizkova raised a few eyebrows when she graced the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue in 1984. Her appearance made her the youngest model to be featured–she was 18 at the time. After the first issue, she was put on a second consecutive issue in 1985.
Paulina Porizkova has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns over the years, including Versace, Chanel, Perry Ellis, Ellen Tracy, Calvin Klein, Revlon and Ann Taylor among others. Other appearances have included a role as a judge on America’s Next Top Model and some acting roles as well. She also co-wrote a children’s book called “The Adventures of Ralphie the Roach.”
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February 15, 1988 (Elle MacPherson)
Elle MacPherson appeared on the cover of SI a total of five times which is a record. This 1988 issue marked the third appearance for the Australian model. Because of her appearances on SI, she earned the nickname “The Body,” coined by Time in 1989.
Elle MacPherson has since started a number of business ventures, selling numerous beauty products and fashion items. From 2010 to 2013, MacPherson was Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model. On top of all this, she’s done charity work, helping raise money to eradicate AIDS in Africa.
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August 25, 2008 (Michael Phelps)
When Michael Phelps made it onto the cover in August of 2008, he was fresh off the high from the 2008 Summer Olympics. There, Phelps had managed to dominate the swimming categories, with a record-breaking eight gold medals. The world had never seen anything like it before and we were all impressed.
But those wouldn’t be the only medals for the best swimmer in the world. With a total of 28 medals from all the Olympic competitions he participated in, Phelps would become the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. Are there more Olympic competitions in his future? That remains to be seen.
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February 21, 1997 (Tyra Banks)
The swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated had been a thing for decades by 1997, but previous issues only had a few pages of swimsuits, while the rest was standard sports fare. However, that all changed in 1997. This issue, featuring Tyra Banks, was the first time an issue had focused solely on swimsuits.
Tyra Banks has certainly had success beyond the cover of Sports Illustrated. She was one of the highest-paid models in the early 2000s and was a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005. She created the show America’s Next Top Model and hosted her very own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show.
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July 17, 1989 (George Foreman)
These days, you’re more likely to associate George Foreman with grills than sports, but he was a superstar of boxing long before he went all “as seen on TV.” Fans of his in the ’70s knew him as a total tough guy, and this cover from shortly after his return to boxing in the ’80s proves he still was tough as nails.
George Foreman was a two-time heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. His professional boxing record includes 76 wins and just five losses. After his second retirement, he started promoting healthy eating with his George Foreman Grill.
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January 27, 1975 (Cheryl Tiegs)
There’s not a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model more iconic than Cheryl Tiegs, and she was making history with the magazine all the way back in 1975. Her appearance on the January cover made her the first model to be featured twice.
Cheryl Teigs is often credited as America’s first supermodel. In addition to SI, she was also featured multiple times on the cover of People and Time. Her celebrity status helped her launch a clothing line for Sears and got her appearances on a number of television shows over the years.
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September 20, 1999 (Serena Williams)
It seems crazy to think, but Serena Williams is just as famous today as she was 20 years ago when this iconic cover shot was taken. When Williams appeared in this issue of Sports Illustrated, she had just won her first Grand Slam—at age 17!
Serena Williams is one of the most famous tennis players of the modern-day and in 2016 was the highest-paid female athlete. She has won 23 grand slam singles and 23 career titles in doubles. She continues competing in matches today, squashing the competition wherever she can.
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May 13, 2019 (Camille Kostek)
Camille Kostek has everything going for her and then some – just look at all those freckles! This was Kostek’s first appearance on Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition, and she absolutely killed it. While she’s established and most famous for being a model, she’s so much more than that.
She’s also a television host and actress. You may have seen her as the on-field host of Wipeout on TBS or NBC’s Dancing With Myself. She also momentarily appeared in the 2001 Ryan Reynold’s comedy Free Guy. Being a certified barre instructor and lacrosse enthusiast, we can see how she keeps her body tight and toned.
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February 14, 1994 (Kathy Ireland, Elle MacPherson, & Rachel Hunter)
In 1994, three titans of Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers came together for an iconic spread. This issue featured Kathy Ireland, Elle MacPherson, and Rachel Hunter. It is easily one of the most memorable covers of all time and also one of the best.
Rachel Hunter, who first appeared on the 1989 cover, managed to appear on multiple covers over the next five years, including the 1994 Dream Team cover with Ireland and MacPherson. She did another cover with six models in 2006.
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June 22, 1970 (Tony Conigliaro)
Baseball player Tony Conigliaro probably didn’t care that he had a black eye on the cover of Sports Illustrated–he was just happy to be alive. Three years earlier, he had come up to bat and taken a direct hit to the head by a baseball that almost cost him his life. In the issue, he gave an account of the injury and the struggle that followed it.
In the issue, he gave an account of the injury and the struggle that followed it. Tony suffered from a linear fracture of the left cheekbone, a dislocated jaw and severe damage to his left retina. He wouldn’t return to the game until a year and a half later at which time he would hit 20 more home runs. With 24 home runs altogether, he has the record for the most home runs hit by a teenage player.
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February 8, 1982 (Carol Alt)
Carol Alt was yet another model who found fame on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Here, she models for the 1982 swimsuit edition. While her first time on the cover of a magazine was for Harper’s Bazaar, her SI appearance was the first major publication that really garnered her some publicity.
After her appearance on the 1982 issue, she appeared on over 500 magazine covers, making her one of the most famous models of her time. Additionally, she has had appearances in film and television throughout the years.
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February 7, 1989 (Kathy Ireland)
By the ’80s, Sports Illustrated and swimsuits were one and the same in the minds of many. This 1989 cover, featuring Kathy Ireland, marked the 25th anniversary of the swimsuit issue and was the best-selling swimsuit issue of all time.
Kathy Ireland was a prominent supermodel from 1980s to the 1990s. She appeared on 13 consecutive issues of SI Swimsuit Issue. She also founded the Kathy Ireland Worldwide marketing company which made her one of the wealthiest former models in the world. By 2015, she had a $420 million personal fortune.
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August 23, 1971 (Steve McQueen)
Steve McQueen may have been an actor and veteran, but he was no professional athlete (or swimsuit model!)–which makes his appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated that much more unique. McQueen was an avid fan of off-road motorcycles and appeared on the cover of an August 1971 issue riding one.
Steve McQueen is of course one of the most famous actors of the 1960s. He was one of the biggest box office draws of the decade and one of the highest-paid actors by 1974 as a result. This made him an ideal subject for the cover of SI at the time.
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January 29, 1996 (Tyra Banks & Valeria Mazza)
For years, the cover of the swimsuit edition would feature only one model, but as time goes on, two or more have popped up from time to time. In 1996, Tyra Banks and Valeria Mazza graced the cover together. This was one of the most notable covers of the time.
Valeria Mazza rose to prominence because of her appearance on the cover. She would work for Gianni Versace and Roberto Cavalli. After a successful modeling career, she became a businesswoman, releasing three perfumes, a magazine and an eyewear brand.
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June 6, 2005 (Danica Patrick)
Danica Patrick had a lot of firsts in the world of racing, including being the first woman to win an IndyCar series race. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2005 near the beginning of her illustrious racing career.
Danica Patrick is easily one of the most prominent women racecar drivers. As of 2008, she is the first and only woman to win the IndyCar series race. She has competed in 191 races in the NASCAR cup series and 116 IndyCar series.
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May 13, 2019 (Tyra Banks)
Over 10 years after her 1997 cover, Tyra Banks was again on the cover of Sports Illustrated showing models that you can still look good years later. She still looks fit and amazing. Some would say that she even looks better than she did in 1997 because she’s much more comfortable with herself.
Tyra Banks is still one of the highest-paid models in the world, but she’s had a bit of a bad rep lately because of her old series, America’s Next Top Model. Other than that, she’s been on her own talk show, Tyra, and she’s hosting Dancing with the Stars. What isn’t she doing nowadays?
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June 15, 2009 (Roger Federer)
Roger Federer was on top of the tennis world when he won the French Open in 2009. This Sports Illustrated cover from June of that year shows the man in action. He was the first male tennis player to be featured on the cover since Andre Agassi in 1999.
The Swiss tennis player was ranked number 8 by the Association of Tennis Professionals. His singles career record is 1243–272 and he’s been an active tennis player since 1993 and competed in the Olympics four times. Currently, he is recovering from knee surgery and as a result, will be missing the 2021 Australian Open.
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August 2020 (Kate Brock, Jasmine Sanders, Olivia Culpo)
We love group shots! This cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition covered three beautiful models – Kate Brock, Jasmine Sanders, and Olivia Culpo. You better believe that the spreads were amazing. Kate Brock came to fame in 2013 after she appeared on her own SI Swimsuit Edition, and she’s been modeling everywhere ever since.
Jasmine Sanders started modeling as a teenager for magazines like Seventeen, but she was also a brand model for Free People, Nike, and ALDO Shoes. Today, she works with Moschino, Ralph Lauren, and DKNY. Last (but certainly not least, Olivia Culpo is a previous Miss Rhode Island who went on to win Miss Rhode Island and Miss USA.
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April 18, 2005 (Tiger Woods)
Tiger Woods might have gone on to be (in)famous for other things, but in 2005 all anyone cared about was his golf game. Tiger had just won his fourth Masters tournament when he appeared on this cover of Sports Illustrated. By then he was one of the biggest stars in golf.
Tiger Woods is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time and is part of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Woods had 82 wins on the PGA Tour tournaments and 41 on the European tour. As of 2017, he is believed to be the highest-paid golfer in the world.
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Swimsuit Edition 2023 (Martha Stewart)
Martha Stewart isn’t just renowned for her culinary expertise and home decor skills; she’s also living proof that healthy living is a key ingredient for a long and happy life. The media mogul recently graced the cover Sports Illustrated’s 2023 Swimsuit Edition at age 81 and showed that she’s still got it, proving age ain’t nothing but a number. So how does she keep that fabulous figure?
With a jam-packed schedule that would leave most of us feeling drained, Martha makes sure to carve out time for her favorite wellness activities each day. From hosting cooking classes to tending to her colorful gardens, Stewart prioritizes exercise and healthy eating, even indulging in the occasional green juice or smoothie bowl.
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May 22, 1995 (Michael Jordan & Shaq)
Not many people were a match for Shaq on the basketball court, but if there was anyone to put him back in his place, it was Michael Jordan. On this 1995 SI cover, Jordan blocks a shot by Shaq at the NBA playoffs.
Michael Jordan and Shaq are some of the biggest names in basketball, so this iconic cover was undoubtedly one that everyone was psyched about. Both players have been featured in films and are pretty much household names.
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February 14, 1983 (Cheryl Tiegs)
By the time this 1983 issue came out, Cheryl Tiegs was an old pro at modelling swimsuits on the cover of SI. This marked her third appearance on the magazine–and it wouldn’t be her last!
Cheryl Teigs had appeared twice before, in 1970 and 1975.
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July 4, 1988 (Mike Tyson & Michel Spinks)
Mike Tyson was probably thrilled to be on the cover of this 1988 issue of Sports Illustrated. Michael Spinks? Probably not so much. This cover shows the iconic moment Tyson knocked out Spinks in the ring, just 91 seconds after the match had begun.
Mike Tyson competed from 1985 to 2005. he competed in 58 fights total and won 50 of them. He’s been the subject of many controversies over the years but none of those have seemed to have had an effect on his legacy as a boxer.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
March 3, 1980 (Miracle on Ice)
The US Men’s Hockey Team made history when they won the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics over the favored Soviet Union team. And when they appeared on this March 1980 issue of Sports Illustrated, they made history again–this was the first time there was no text besides the title on the cover.
The Miracle on Ice game was significant because it occurred at a time when tensions were highest between the two nations. The Soviet Union was also a four-time defending gold medalist.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
July 8, 2013 (Dennis Rodman)
This 2013 Dennis Rodman cover has to be one of the most bizarre around, and yet, it makes perfect sense for the oddball basketball player. Rodman has probably spent more of his life turning heads because of his odd behavior than his basketball skills.
Dennis Rodman was known for his defensive skills on the court as well as his rebounding abilities. he played for a number of teams over the years including the Pistons, Spurs, and the Bulls. But even long after he has retired from basketball, he continues to be a huge celebrity.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
January 17, 1966
Considering some of the swimsuit edition covers we’ve seen over the years, it’s hard to believe that many of the early issues were considered controversial—considering they seem particularly tame by today’s standards.
The January 17, 1996 SI issue hardly seems like it would be controversial at all. It looks like a typical photo you might find in an advertisement for Macy’s or Kohl’s and yet, it’s just Sports Illustrated.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
April 23, 2001 (Allen Iverson)
When Allen Iverson took the NBA by storm, he clashed with a lot of the “classic” players that weren’t too keen on his new approach to the game and to fame. But that never stopped Iverson from being who he was–including on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Allen Iverson played in the NBA for a whopping 14 seasons. He is an 11-time NBA All-star and won the MVP title in 2001. The Philadelphia 76ers acquired him 1996 and he played for them until 2006 until he played for the Denver Nuggets until 2011.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
September 27, 1954 (Calvin Jones)
While it’s not the most eye-catching cover for a Sports Illustrated , this one still made history for the magazine—and for Calvin Jones, who is featured on the front. With this cover, Jones became the first college athlete, football player, and African American to grace the front page of SI.
Calvin Jones was an up-and-coming college football player for the University of Iowa. He graduated with a 3.0 grade point average and was drafted by the NFL in 1956. Tragically, he died in a plane crash in 1956. Everyone on board the plane had died. Calvin was just 23 years old.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
Swimsuit Issue 2022 (Kim Kardashian)
Kim Kardashian appears to have been featured on every magazine cover at this point in her career. The reality star turned entrepreneur has graced the pages of Vogue and created history with Paper Magazine. This American socialite, media personality, and entrepreneur was first featured in the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated in 2022.
Kim’s multiple enterprises and rising empire bring in between $50 and $80 million each year. Between 2018 and 2019, she earned around $72 million from her many endeavors. Kim used to generate a large portion of her yearly revenue through endorsement and licensing arrangements. She is worth an astounding $1.8 billion. You go, Girl!
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
Swimsuit Issue 50th Anniversary (Chrissy Tiegen, Nina Agdal, and
Over the years, it hasn’t been uncommon for Sports Illustrated to feature more than one model on the cover, so it was no surprise when we got three beautiful women on the cover of the 50th anniversary of the Swimsuit Issue. This cover dropped in 2014 and featured models Lily Aldridge, Chrissy Tiegen, and Nina Agdal.
Agdal made her debut for Sports Illustrated back in 2012, but this was the first time for both Tiegen and Aldridge. The then-editor for the Swimsuit Issue described the shoot like this: “[The 2014 cover] is presented from a unique perspective, with a lighthearted spirit and breathtaking setting that lets the imagination run wild.”
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
Swimsuit Issue 2017 (Kate Upton)
This lovely lady appears in the body paint portion of the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was selected as Rookie of the Year for the issue. Upton graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2012. Models.com listed her as the fifth sexiest model, and she was also on Maxim‘s Hot 100 list in 2012.
In 2013, Ms. Upton was once again the cover girl for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The shoot for that issue took place in rugged Antarctica, and the intense cold caused her hearing and visual difficulties. That same year, she was placed third on Ask Men‘s Top 99 Women list.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
Swimsuit Issue 2010 (Brooklyn Decker)
Decker traveled to New York City after graduating from high school to pursue her dream of a modeling career. She had only been in the Big Apple for a few months when she auditioned for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover. She then appeared in the magazine that year and the following year.
She returned to the Swimsuit Edition in 2007, and she presented a behind-the-scenes feature about the issue. In 2008, she was featured in the magazine for the third time. She was asked to be on the cover of the special edition in 2010 after being in the special edition magazine for five years in a row.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
Swimsuit Issue 2022 (Maye Musk)
Sports Illustrated made history once again when they released their 2022 Swimsuit Issue. One of the covers featured model Maye Musk, who, at this time, is the oldest model to appear on the cover of the magazine at 74 years old. While the idea of someone as old as your grandma on the cover might raise some eyebrows, we’ve seen worse on the cover!
While it might be her first time on Sports Illustrated, Musk is no stranger to the world of modeling—she’s had a career that has spanned more than 50 years at this point! And yes, (because we know you’re all wondering about it) Maye is the mother of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
Swimsuit Issue 2022 (Yumi Nu)
Model Yumi Nu made her first appearance in the pages of Sports Illustrated in 2021, and then she clenched the coveted cover spot on the Swimsuit Issue in 2022. Her iconic photo was taken in Montenegro, and Yu called it “the most beautiful place I’ve ever shot in.”
Yu’s modeling career has spanned her entire life, with the model first appearing in ads for high-profile brands like Mercedes-Benz when she was just a baby! In addition to modeling, Yu also has a budding music career. She wrote her first song at age 12 and released her first album back in 2019.
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
Swimsuit Issue 2018 (Danielle Herrington)
Like many of the models on this list, Danielle Herrington first graced the pages of Sports Illustrated before landing the coveted cover spot in 2018. Since that time, she’s gone on to have numerous other high-profile gigs at New York Fashion week and for Victoria’s Secret.
Herrington’s modeling career began when she was just 13, and she even dropped out of conventional school to be homeschooled in order to focus more on her career. While that may have been a controversial move in some people’s eyes, it’s clearly paid off in the end for Herrington!
(Image via Sports Illustrated)
AuthorAlot Living TeamLast Updated: October 16, 2024
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