Sports Illustrated named its coveted cover models for its swimsuit edition on Wednesday. The lucky models gracing its cover in 2019 are Camille Kostek, 27, Tyra Banks, 45, and soccer star Alex Morgan, 29. "@tyrabanks, @camillekostek and @alexmorgan13have landed the cover of #SISwim2019! 'The three women that make up the covers of the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue represent the brand in the most powerful way possible,' @mj_daysaid. 'While each individual woman is so unique, they come together cohesively to tell a spectacular story,'" the magazine announced on Instagram. OLIVIA CULPO ADMITS SHE WAS 'REALLY NERVOUS' LEADING UP TO 2019 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT PHOTO SHOOT This isn't the first time the former "America's Next Top Model" host has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Banks first appeared on its cover in 1996 and returned again in 1997. Last year, she surprised model Danielle Herrington with the news that she made the magazine's cover in 2018. "Tyra Banks is the epitome of what we hope for all the women who are a part of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit," editor MJ Day said on the magazine's website. "What she has achieved so far in her career is extraordinary. She has parlayed a modeling career into [a] phenomenal success that spans multiple industries and resonates with people on a global scale. She has refused to be singularly defined and is constantly working to inspire everyone within her reach." ROB GRONKOWSKI’S GIRLFRIEND CAMILLE KOSTEK STUNS FOLLOWERS WITH TOPLESS POST Back in March, Kostek, who is dating retired football player Rob Gronkowski, told Fox News she’s always envisioned herself as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and believed the magazine offers an empowering message for women. “If I didn’t think I could be here, I wouldn’t do it,” said Kostek. “It’s been such a refreshing, exciting time for me to model and be represented by a company that embraces women of every shape and size. It’s been so nice to not have that pressure to change just to be on a runway show or photo shoot. That’s exactly what I stand for as a woman and a sister. PAULINA PORIZKOVA, 54, ‘GULPED’ WHEN ASKED TO POSE FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED WITHOUT 'ANY RETOUCHING' "I just want to send the best message possible to women. And I’m just so thankful because I honestly never thought I could model. I’ve always been told I wasn’t tall enough, I wasn’t thin enough. It’s motivating when someone tells you it’s possible to do something that seems impossible.” The magazine also shared on its Twitter account a video of its third cover model, Alex Morgan, being surprised with the news that she made the final cut. "Just to be part of SI Swimsuit, I feel like empowered because I feel like I'm alongside so many incredible women," Morgan shares before finding out she's on the cover. "This is the first shot of the day, so I was still getting the nerves out of me," she said when shown the picture that ultimately made the cover. "This picture just shows me how strong I am and how hard I've worked not necessarily to show off my body in any way, but I work every single day to compete on the highest stage in my sport and this just shows all the training and discipline and commitment and sacrifice." US WOMEN'S SOCCER STAR ALEX MORGAN TALKS FIGHT FOR PAY PARITY AHEAD OF WOMEN'S WORLD CUP She concluded: "I'm so excited to represent all of women's soccer on the cover of Sports Illustrated."<doc-sep>The 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue was released on Wednesday and several notable athletes are featured in this year’s edition. One of those athletes: Alex Morgan. Morgan, a United States women’s soccer star, will be playing in the World Cup this summer. For now, though, she’s a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model. Morgan is one of three women featured on this year’s covers. “It’s been 5 years since the last time i was a part of #SISwim and let me tell you, for this, it was worth the wait!! !” she wrote. Morgan shared some more photos on Instagram. “I can’t choose one… so here’s 4 more of my faves,” she wrote. You can view her entire shoot here.<doc-sep>The 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is out now, and it features what may be the most diverse group of models in the magazine's history, including the first Polynesian model, Victoria Pome'e, and Halima Aden, who's the first to appear in a hijab and burkini. Among the diverse models being highlighted is Tara Lynn, a deeply fabulous curve model who's making history as the oldest rookie to ever pose for the issue. At age 36, the model and mom is breaking new ground and inspiring us all. Tara Lynn was photographed only a year after giving birth to her younger son. She told the New York Post that her postbaby workout regimen was less about trying to lose the baby weight and more about getting toned and fit. "I wasn't concerned about getting rid of the baby belly," she said in the interview. "I worked with a trainer to gain muscle. My focus was on fitness." Although Tara Lynn is a successful model now — her portfolio includes a campaign for H&M, as well as the cover of Elle France — that wasn't the goal at first. She started out studying music theory and voice, hoping to work as a jingle singer in the advertising world. Her first modeling audition was an attempt to build up her ability to handle rejection. She was certain she'd be turned away. "[I wanted] to do something really scary that I would probably get told no and discover that I could be okay," she told the Post. "I was looking for rejection, so I could pick myself up and keep going toward this other thing I wanted to do." Even now with so many successes behind her (and ahead of her), Tara Lynn's still trying to do new and interesting things. She turned her SI shoot into an opportunity to give back: a bikini she wears in the issue is designed by her and is part of a new movement for eco-friendly, charitably oriented fashion. For every suit sold, 100 trees will be planted in partnership with Trees for the Future, which works with farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to create sustainable forest gardens. Tara Lynn's feature in the iconic issue is further proof that there are no limits (time or otherwise) when it comes to achieving your dreams. "So many of us have these grand goals when we are kids, and as time goes on, we seem to think our opportunities are narrowed down. We can get trapped in the idea that the older we get, the more opportunities are behind us," she said. Pick up the issue on newsstands today, and read through for some of Tara Lynn's stunning Instagram photos.<doc-sep>Meg Oliphant/Getty Images United States soccer star Alex Morgan was announced as one of three 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover models on Wednesday: The women's national team co-captain will be joining model and entertainer Tyra Banks and model Camille Kostek on the issue's three separate covers: This marks Morgan's third appearance in the Swimsuit Issue, and this year she'll be joined by three of her teammates: co-captain Megan Rapinoe, Crystal Dunn and Abby Dahlkemper. "I felt like it was important to really show the diversity of this team, as well as show the youth and the experienced players," Morgan said.<doc-sep>
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit is continuing its tradition of supporting motivational and aspirational women. And this year, the hotly anticipated magazine is profiling three diverse stars on three different covers. Alex Morgan, forward for the U.S. women’s national soccer team, joins Tyra Banks and Camille Kostek, posing for own SI Swim cover. For her shoot, Morgan was photographed in St. Lucia by Ben Watts wearing a navy Fae bikini. “Alex Morgan stands for feminine strength and power, using her voice to fight for gender discrimination and equal pay,” says SI Swimsuit Editor MJ Day. See Alex Morgan's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 Cover In March, Morgan and all her teammates on the U.S. women’s national soccer team — which holds a record-breaking three World Cup championships and four Olympic gold medals — filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation. RELATED: She’s Back! Tyra Banks Comes Out of Modeling Retirement to Cover Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 Not only are the women fighting for fair paychecks, they’re also highlighting the discrepancies between where they play, how they travel to matches, and the medical treatment they receive, in what the team called “institutionalized gender discrimination,” according to The New York Times. “This isn’t just about us; It’s about women in all industries,” Morgan said in a recent interview with ProSoccerUSA.com. “Women fight for equality every single day. Our hope is that we not only set up ourselves, we set up the next generation as well.” RELATED: Halima Aden Breaks Boundaries as the First Model to Wear a Hijab and Burkini in SI Swimsuit 2019 Marking Morgan’s third appearance in the issue, she collaborated with SI Swimsuit by helping select three additional US National Women’s Soccer team members to participate in the shoot: Megan Rapinoe, Crystal Dunn and Abby Dahlkemper. Laretta Houston/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED The 2019 issue of SI Swimsuit features a diverse group of 34 women and continues to put focus on female empowerment and inclusivity. This year’s theme, “Shattering Perceptions,” sets an intention to “redefine the cultural conversation around beauty by celebrating a diverse group of women.” Story continues RELATED: Camille Kostek Lands Her First Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover — as a Rookie! This year marks Morgan’s third appearance in SI Swim, and she enlisted three of her teammates to also participate in the shoot: Megan Rapinoe, Crystal Dunn and Abby Dahlkemper. It’s been a year full of big achievements for the soccer star, who was also named as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2019, calling the honor a “dream” on Instagram. For the Time 100, Olympic gold medalist and a FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Mia Hamm wrote the following tribute to Morgan: “When we watch Alex Morgan play the game she loves, it’s easy to see why she’s performing at such an extraordinary level. She’s fast, strong and fearless. Alex continues to add so much confidence and variety to her game. It should also excite us to know that she’s playing the best soccer of her career, and that this summer she’ll do whatever it takes to help her team defend the World Cup they reclaimed four years ago.” SI Swimsuit hits newsstands on Wednesday, May 8.