Sports Illustrated is an American sports media franchise owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twice. Its swimsuit issue, which has been published since 1964, is now an annual publishing event that generates its own television shows, videos and calendars.

Two other magazines named Sports Illustrated were started in the 1920s and 1930s, but they both quickly failed. Following these events, there was no large-base general sports magazine with a national following. It was then that Time patriarch Henry Luce began considering whether his company should attempt to fill that gap. At the time, many believed sports was beneath the attention of serious journalism and did not think sports news could fill a weekly magazine, especially during the winter. A number of advisers to Luce, including Life magazine's Ernest Havemann, tried to kill the idea, but Luce, who was not a sports fan, decided the time was right.

Emily Ratajkowski (born April 27, 1992) is an American actress and model best known for playing the role of Tasha on the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly. To date she has appeared in the episodes "iSpeed Date" and "iEnrage Gibby" as the girlfriend of Gibby.

Prior to her two appearances on iCarly, Ratajkowski appeared as a model, and played obscure roles in the 2004 short film Andrew's Alteration and the 2005 indie film A Year and a Day.

Katherine "Kate" Upton (born June 10, 1992) is an American model and actress known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, first in 2011, when she was named Rookie of the Year, and again in 2012, when she was announced as the cover model.

Upton was born in St. Joseph, Michigan and raised in Melbourne, Florida. She attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy. Her uncle is U.S. Representative Fred Upton, Republican of Michigan's 6th congressional district.

As a young equestrian, Upton showed at the American Paint Horse Association and competed on a national level. With her horse Roanie Pony, she won three APHA Reserve World Championships – 13 and Under Western Riding, 13 and Under Horsemanship, and 14–18 Western Riding. She was named the 13 and Under Reserve All-Around Champion, giving her a total of four reserve championships (2nd place). In addition, Upton ended up third overall on the APHA youth Top Twenty. With a second horse, Zipped, she won 14–18 Western Riding and was included in the top 5 in 14–18 Horsemanship and 14–18 Western Pleasure in 2009.

Lily Aldridge (born 15 November 1985) is an American model best known for her work with Victoria's Secret.

Aldridge was born at St John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California and hails from a fashion-oriented family. She is the daughter of English artist Alan Aldridge and Playboy Playmate of the month Laura Lyons. Her siblings include half-sister Saffron Aldridge, who was a multiyear face of Ralph Lauren in the ‘90s; half-brother Miles Aldridge, who is a fashion photographer married to ‘90s model Kristen McMenamy; and sister Ruby Aldridge, who was the face of Marc by Marc Jacobs.

On September 20, 2010, Us Magazine reported that Aldridge was engaged to Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill. They met in 2007 at the Coachella Festival. The couple married on May 12, 2011 at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. On December 29, 2011, Followill and Aldridge announced that they are expecting their first child together.

At the age of 17, Aldridge appeared on the cover of the August 2003 Spanish Vogue. She also appeared in editorials for Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, and Elle Girl. Her advertising campaigns include Rocawear, Arden B., Shiatzy Chen, Bobbi Brown, Smashbox Cosmetics, Coach, JCrew, Charles David, Levi's, J Brand, Accessorize, and Velvet Tees.

Damaris Lewis (born October 10, 1990) is an American model who appeared in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues. She was born in Brooklyn, New York. She has also previously appeared in ad campaigns for Yves Sant Laurent and Victoria's Secret's PINK line. She studied dance at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She was discovered at age 15, but was allowed to finish high school before becoming a professional model.Nick Jonas once selected her to do an extensive multiday interview with. She is known for having a short torso for her height. She was accompanying Kate Upton at a Los Angeles Clippers game when Upton was filmed doing a rendition of the Dougie dance that went viral. She appeared briefly in the 2011 movie Limitless, dancing in a club with the starring Bradley Cooper, and in the music video for Kanye West's single "Monster".