Salma Hayek Pinault recently made headlines with her debut on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. The 58-year-old actress was shocked by the unexpected offer—so much so that her first reaction was to assume it was a prank call.
While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, May 14, Hayek opened up about her reaction to being invited to grace the cover.
She arrived at the late night talk show wearing a form-fitting leather dress, her long wavy hair worn down. The cocktail dress featured a deep V-neckline, which she paired with tall heels.
Reflecting on being asked to model for the cover, Hayek told Fallon, “I thought I was being punked. It was so surreal.”
On the viral cover, she’s photographed kneeling in a pool, wearing a green two-piece bikini accented with gold accessories.
Part of the House of Gucci star’s initial surprise stemmed from her age. “I’m 58!” she exclaimed.
“When I was 20, I would look at this and say, ‘Oh my God, they’re so beautiful,’” Hayek added, referencing the iconic magazine. “I knew that my body type was not what they were looking for.”
Despite those early doubts, Hayek joins 38 other women featured in the 2025 issue. “I never even thought that one day I would be in it — not even when I was young. And here we are, girls,” she said.
Joining the Oscar nominee as fellow 2025 cover stars are Olympian Jordan Chiles, gymnast Olivia Dunne, and model Lauren Chan.
“Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has always been about more than swimsuits and stunning imagery,” said MJ Day, the magazine’s editor-in-chief.
“It’s about creating a platform to capture moments that define our times, celebrating people who are shaping culture, and showcasing beauty on a world stage.”
Read More!
Livvy Dunne rocks bikini for ‘Hot Girl Fishing’ trend in latest viral video
Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson has a staggering net worth
Livvy Dunne wears tiny red bikini following 2025 Kentucky Derby appearance