“Sexy and Curvy”: Lizzo Grace the Cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Special Issue and Claps Back at Haters
11:47 22 July, 2026The 38-year-old singer Lizzo has become the face of the digital cover for the July 2026 issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit—an achievement that she and her team at Yitty literally "manifested" years ago when creating their swimwear line.
“Every time I create Yitty Swim, I feel like it's Sports Illustrated tier,” the artist shared in an interview with Paper magazine's editorial director Mickey Boardman. “When I truly believe in my dreams, they come true.”
For the main cover, Lizzo posed in a bikini of her own design—a black swimsuit from Yitty Swim (the inclusive shapewear and apparel brand she launched in 2022), paired with a sheer sarong and Ralph Lauren earrings.
The Grammy winner admits that as a child, she couldn't even imagine something like this. “When I was younger and looked at this magazine, I couldn't imagine that a girl with my body type would ever be on the cover. It's incredible to see how, since my childhood, we have redefined concepts of sexiness, self-confidence, and what a 'swimsuit body' actually looks like.”
The singer is well aware that the cover will provoke a wave of critics, and she already has a bold response ready for them: “The sight of this cover, where I'm so sexy, curvy, and gorgeous in my swimsuit, might trigger some people. Well... stay triggered!”
In a candid conversation, the singer also addressed the 20 pounds (9 kg) she intentionally gained over the past year. Earlier this month, in an interview with The Guardian, she stated that a "system of oppression" keeps women in show business under a constant microscope. “I wanted to get juicier and curvier—and I did. The critics in the comments think it happened by accident, but they have no idea that it was completely intentional.”