Gayle King, at the age of 69, was taken aback when she received a surprising invitation to grace the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. The co-anchor of CBS Mornings expressed her disbelief, admitting that her initial reaction was to think she was being pranked. “When the call came in, I honestly thought it was a joke,” she recalled during an interview with People. “I was really thrilled yet a bit skeptical about the whole thing.”
King made her grand debut in the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, which was released in March. She posed in a variety of striking one-piece swimsuits for what turned out to be an exciting shoot. Initially, she was led to believe that her appearance would be kept to the magazine’s interior; however, she was in for a delightful surprise when she learned she would be featured as one of the issue’s cover stars.
In her conversation with People, King expressed her joy at being selected for such a prominent role, emphasizing the significance of the moment for women everywhere. “So many women approached me and said, ‘That was so brave.’ But honestly, I was just excited to be part of it,” she shared. “My aim was to showcase that being 69 can look and feel fabulous.”
Throughout the photoshoot, King wore several colorful and fashionable swimsuits, all of which she said highlighted her desire for “tasteful cleavage.” Reflecting on this milestone, she noted that while posing for the magazine wasn’t something she had envisioned for herself, it quickly became one of the standout moments of her career.
Notably, King was featured alongside iconic models and personalities like Hunter McGrady, Kate Upton, Tyra Banks, and Martha Stewart in the 60th anniversary issue. Her past insecurities were a topic she later discussed on her morning show, where she revealed that her grandmother had once remarked about her appearance in comparison to other girls. “Mother Nature wasn’t as kind to you as she was to your friend,” she remembered her grandmother saying. However, looking at her stunning photos, King reflected with pride, “I look amazing.”
Her ex-husband, William Bumpus, also offered his support, stating that she looked “fantastic” and praising her beauty. He shared his pride in her accomplishments and expressed ongoing affection for her.
Ultimately, King made her reveal of the cover to her audience during an episode of CBS Mornings, marking it as a remarkable milestone on her bucket list. With the release of the Sports Illustrated Swim 60th anniversary issue in May, King celebrated her newfound recognition and sent a powerful message to all women: it’s absolutely possible to embrace confidence and beauty at any age.
