Kori Barnes 
Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion and Naomi Osaka, the reigning US Open tennis champion, are making headlines yet again with their latest accomplishment, which just happens to be in the modeling world.
Apparently, Hot Girls definitely do it best and this summer they haven’t fallen short. But how could they when their leader has officially become the first rapper to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated’s latest swimsuit issue? They’re definitely taking the W!
“It definitely was a dream for me to be on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit,” the 25-year-old told CNN via email. “And to be the first female rapper? Who else would they pick? I am just happy they chose the Hot Girl Coach!” Megan Thee Stallion’s debut on the cover of the magazine definitely expresses the confidence that this Houston rapper has always implemented. This is just another notch in her belt as she continues to dominate the industry across multiple platforms.
Osaka’s presence on the iconic magazine cover makes her the first Black female athlete to ever land the spot! I mean c’mon, women are clearly doing the damn thing (which we always have done!).
Osaka was a perfect pick for the brand in the eyes of the SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day. “There’s no question that Naomi is one of the best athletes in the world, and a cover spot felt obvious,” Day told USAtoday.com. “She’s spent her formative years racking up titles and is headed to the Olympics. But we celebrate Naomi for her passion, strength and power geared towards consistently breaking barriers when it comes to equality, social justice, and mental health.”
Leyna Bloom also made strides for the transgender community as she became the first transgender cover model for the magazine. I love that Sports Illustrated utilized their platform to give these three incredible women the opportunity to connect further with their fans and communities.
By Kori Barnes. University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Instagram: @korixnicole
