Yes. Sports Illustrated featured a transgender model, and she made history as the first transgender woman to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Her name is Leyna Bloom, a model, actress, dancer, and activist.
Bloom appeared on the cover of the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue alongside Megan Thee Stallion and tennis player Naomi Osaka. Sports Illustrated itself described Bloom as the first transgender cover model in the history of its Swimsuit franchise and the first transgender person of color to appear in the issue.
Who Is Leyna Bloom?
Leyna Bloom is an American model and actress who became widely known for breaking barriers in the fashion and entertainment industries. Before appearing in Sports Illustrated, she had already worked as a model and had become one of the openly transgender models involved in major fashion events.
Sports Illustrated reported that Bloom walked the runway during New York Fashion Week in 2017. She also became the first transgender woman of color to appear in Vogue India.
Her career has extended beyond modeling. Bloom has also worked as an actress and appeared in the film Port Authority, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
Her Sports Illustrated appearance became one of the most notable milestones of her modeling career.
When Did Sports Illustrated Feature a Transgender Model?
The historic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit appearance happened in 2021.
That year’s Swimsuit Issue featured three separate cover models: Leyna Bloom, Megan Thee Stallion, and Naomi Osaka. Sports Illustrated called the three covers “history-making” because each represented a different milestone for the publication.
Bloom was photographed by Yu Tsai in Tampa, Florida, for her 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit feature. The magazine published an extensive collection of photographs from the shoot.
Her appearance was significant because she became the first transgender woman to appear on the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue.
Was Leyna Bloom the First Transgender Sports Illustrated Cover Model?
Yes.
Sports Illustrated’s own Swimsuit publication identifies Leyna Bloom as the first transgender cover model in SI Swimsuit history. The magazine also describes her as the first transgender person of color to appear on its pages.
This distinction is specifically about the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit franchise. It is useful to make that distinction because Sports Illustrated has several different editorial areas, while the Swimsuit Issue is its separate modeling and lifestyle franchise.
Did Leyna Bloom Appear in Sports Illustrated After 2021?
Yes. Bloom continued working with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit after her historic 2021 appearance.
According to Sports Illustrated, she returned for a second feature in 2022, when she was photographed in Belize. She then appeared again in 2023, with a photo shoot in Dominica.
In 2024, Sports Illustrated named Bloom one of its official Swimsuit “brand legends” as part of the franchise’s 60th-anniversary celebration.
Sports Illustrated has therefore continued to associate Bloom with the Swimsuit brand beyond her original 2021 cover.
How Did Sports Illustrated Describe Her 2021 Appearance?
Sports Illustrated presented Bloom’s appearance as a milestone for its Swimsuit franchise.
The publication said that Bloom joined the 2021 cover lineup because of her modeling career, personal story, and ability to inspire others. SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day also discussed the significance of Bloom’s appearance and her journey.
The 2021 issue was part of a broader period in which Sports Illustrated Swimsuit was featuring models and public figures from a wider range of backgrounds.
For example, the same year’s covers included Naomi Osaka, who was highlighted as the first Black female athlete to appear on an SI Swimsuit cover, and Megan Thee Stallion, who became the first rapper to appear on the cover.
Did Sports Illustrated Have Other Transgender Models?
Leyna Bloom is the clearest documented example and the first transgender woman to appear on the SI Swimsuit cover.
Sports Illustrated has continued to describe Bloom as a history-making transgender model in subsequent coverage. In 2024 and later retrospective articles, the publication continued to identify her as its first transgender cover model.
The magazine’s own historical cover archive lists Bloom’s 2021 appearance alongside Megan Thee Stallion and Naomi Osaka.
Why Was Leyna Bloom’s Cover Significant?
The cover was significant because it represented a major milestone for transgender representation in one of America’s best-known sports-media and lifestyle franchises.
Bloom’s appearance also connected Sports Illustrated with the broader fashion industry’s increasing visibility of transgender models.
However, the significance of the cover can be described factually without assuming that every reader will have the same opinion about the cultural debate surrounding it. The documented point is that Sports Illustrated intentionally identified Bloom’s appearance as a historic first for its Swimsuit franchise.
How Long Did Leyna Bloom Work With SI Swimsuit?
Bloom’s relationship with the SI Swimsuit brand lasted beyond her first cover.
Her documented appearances include:
| Year | SI Swimsuit involvement |
|---|---|
| 2021 | First appearance and historic cover |
| 2022 | Returned for a shoot in Belize |
| 2023 | Returned for another feature in Dominica |
| 2024 | Named an official SI Swimsuit brand legend |
Sports Illustrated has described her as a four-time SI Swimsuit model, including her appearances and recognition through the 60th-anniversary period.
Did Sports Illustrated Stop Featuring Leyna Bloom After Her Cover?
No. Sports Illustrated’s own coverage confirms that Bloom returned to the Swimsuit franchise after her 2021 cover.
The publication reported her 2022 and 2023 appearances and later recognized her as a brand legend. That means her connection with the franchise was not limited to a single historic cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first transgender model on Sports Illustrated?
Leyna Bloom was the first transgender woman to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Her historic cover was published in 2021.
Was Leyna Bloom on the Sports Illustrated cover?
Yes. Bloom was one of three cover models for the 2021 SI Swimsuit Issue, alongside Megan Thee Stallion and Naomi Osaka.
Is Leyna Bloom a model?
Yes. Bloom is a model who has also worked as an actress, dancer, and activist. Sports Illustrated has covered her modeling career extensively.
Did Leyna Bloom appear in Sports Illustrated more than once?
Yes. She returned to SI Swimsuit in 2022 and 2023 and was later recognized as an SI Swimsuit brand legend.
When did Sports Illustrated first feature Leyna Bloom?
Bloom first appeared in the SI Swimsuit franchise in 2021, when she became its first transgender cover model.
Was Leyna Bloom the first transgender person of color in SI Swimsuit?
Sports Illustrated described Bloom as the first transgender person of color to appear on its pages and the first transgender cover model in the Swimsuit franchise.
Conclusion
Yes, Sports Illustrated did have a transgender model. Leyna Bloom made history in 2021 as the first transgender woman to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was one of three cover models that year, alongside Megan Thee Stallion and Naomi Osaka.
Bloom’s involvement with Sports Illustrated did not end with her historic cover. She returned for subsequent Swimsuit features in 2022 and 2023 and was later recognized as a brand legend.
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