Tiffany Haddish made history as the first comedian to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, landing one of four cover spots for the 2026 issue alongside Hilary Duff, Alix Earle, and Nicole Williams English. The 46-year-old actress and comedian was officially revealed as a cover model on May 12, 2026.
Quick Facts
- Haddish is the first comedian ever to appear on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover
- The 2026 issue features four cover models, announced May 12, 2026
- She was photographed in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico in an orange and gold bikini
- The cover represents a lifelong dream she had since her track and field days as a child
The cover holds profound personal meaning for Haddish. “I wanted to follow in my grandmother’s footsteps of being a model,” she told E! News exclusively at the May 14 launch party in New York. “I feel like this is my way of honoring my grandmother and her legacy.”
Haddish’s path to the cover was not straightforward. After tearing both menisci in her knees in 2019 while shooting the film Black Mitzvah, she gained weight during her recovery. But a conversation with Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner, brother to track legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee, inspired her fitness journey. “He said he could help me heal my knees and get me back into shape,” she recalled to PEOPLE. “And as I was getting back into shape, I had put in the back of my mind that I’m a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model.”
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The surprise announcement came during an elaborate reveal at Paris Hilton’s house. “My manager blindfolded me and took me over to Paris Hilton’s house,” Haddish explained. When she opened her eyes, she saw a cake that read, “You are a cover swimsuit model for Sports Illustrated.” Kathy Hilton, Paris’s mother, had been encouraging Haddish’s modeling aspirations for two years, even helping her land a Monse fashion show appearance.
Beyond the achievement itself, Haddish emphasized the transformation’s deeper impact. “It really got me in tune with listening to my body and being able to push it like I used to,” she said. “It made me so proud of me, because my body popped into alignment and did everything it was instructed to do.” She hopes her story inspires others: “I hope that they take away that you can transform, that we’re constantly transforming, and that you can be and look like whatever you want. I can be a swimsuit model and be over 30.”
Sources
- E! News — exclusive interview with Haddish about emotional family connection and Paris Hilton surprise reveal
- Essence — Haddish’s fitness journey, knee injury, and quotes about transformation and self-belief
- USA Today — confirmation of 2026 cover models and announcement date
- TODAY Show — multiple interviews and confirmation of Haddish as first comedian on cover
