Bar Refaeli Sports Illustrated Cover Model 2008

Allie @ Gone Hollywood | Thursday, February 7, 2008

Bar Refaeli, the Israeli supermodel and Leonardo DiCarprio’s girlfriend is rumored to be the 2008 cover model for the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - Bar Refaeli - PIC

Here is a sneak peek into the 2008 swimsuit issue:

How the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue came about?

In the winter of 1964, Sports Illustrated magazine was in its usual sales slump. So the editorial staff at S.I. decided to try something new.

Babette Marche, a model in a racy (for the time) bikini was splashed across the cover for their new February issue and - surprise! - the edition was almost an instant sellout.

Soon, hot-blooded sports fans by the millions were waiting at mailboxes for delivery of the Sports llustrated Swimsuit Issue in an annual winter tradition.

Almost single-handedly, Sports Illustrated had launched the Era of the Supermodel - giving rise to the careers of Tyra Banks, Christie Brinkley, Rachel Hunter, Elle Macpherson and Kathy Ireland (to name only a few) who have since graced the cover.

The 2006 landmark “topless” cover featured models Veronica Varekova, Elle Macpherson, Rebecca Romijn, Rachel Hunter, Daniela Pestova, Elsa Benitez, Carolyn Murphy and Yamila Diaz.

Inside, Heidi Klum was the featured photo spread and, (just to keep it fairly legit as a sports issue), tennis pro Maria Sharapova also appeared in the lower right hand corner over the sub-headline, “…As You’ve Never Seen Her.

[More Bar Refaeli - Click thumbnails for a larger view]