Heart: Racing

The big news the other day was that a game called "Need For Speed: The Run" is going to feature a digital Chrissy Teigen and Irina Shayk, along with "mild suggestive themes."The plot: You have to drive really fast across the country to something something. And Chrissy and Irina are friends who race against you.

This makes Chrissy and Irina absolutely the first and second and third SI models to appear in a "Need For Speed" video game.

Josie Maran did the honors for "Need For Speed: Most Wanted," playing "Mia Townsend," the character who guides you through the game. Or something. I'm not a gamer.But I get Josie and Irina. They look like badass video game chicks.Chrissy is a little too cute and innocent looking.Maybe Irina does the driving, and Chrissy flicks you off in traffic and then tweets about you.

Anyway, what's lost in all this is that there's a girl who's made the opposite leap, from racecar driver to swimsuit model. Danica Patrick doesn't do much for me personally, but her second appearance, in 2009, yielded some nice shots.

One-Piece Wednesday: Ashley Richardson, 1993

The Queen of the One-Piece, Ashley Richardson, in Martha's Vineyard.

Happy Birthday, Cheryl and Jessica

Two great birthdays today.

SI's first supermodel, Cheryl Tiegs, is 64.
And a current one, Jessica Gomes, is 26.I still love Jessica, even if I haven’t solved the mystery of what happened to her bikini top in the years since her first appearance in 2008.
But they both rock a white, translucent fishnet one-piece. So happy birthday, girls.

Some Historian I Turned Out to Be

Back in February, I took Lowdown Blog and Bro Bible to task for thinking that the 2011 swimsuit issue was the 49th and 38th, respectively. I corrected them:

“Guys—it’s the 47th.”

Well, guess what? It’s actually the 48th.

To make up for my ineptitude at simple counting, here is one of my favorite photos of Rebecca Romijn.How did I screw it up? I have a theory.

I knew offhand that the 25th Anniversary issue was in 1989. So I think I started with that issue as the 25th swimsuit issue, then added 22: one for each year from 1990-2011.

What I failed to take into account: The 25th Anniversary issue was actually the 26th swimsuit issue. Which makes sense. (The first anniversary issue would have been the second issue overall. And your 25th birthday is actually the 26th time you’ve experienced that date.)

So, 2011 was the 48th swimsuit issue, and the 47th anniversary.

Wasn’t that interesting?

Ahem.

Rebecca, you’re needed again.

One-Piece Wednesday: Stephanie Seymour, 1991

Happy Birthday, Noemie Lenoir

She's 32 today.Between her and Ana Beatriz Barros, I can't figure out who's sultrier, with their wavy hair and their sleepy, ravenous eyes.

The Swimsuit Contest Curse

Today is Michelle Lombardo's 28th birthday.She won the Sports Illustrated "Fresh Face" contest, landing her in the 2005 issue (and a lot of scuba gear).Of course, another contest winner made her debut in 2005, this one as the result of a reality show, "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search." That girl was Alicia Hall.
(Though I was heartily rooting for the runner-up, Shannon Hughes.)Both Michelle and Alicia ended up as one-hit wonders, never to appear in the magazine's pages again. Is there a swimsuit issue contest curse?

If, a year and a half from now, Jessica Perez fails to appear in the 2013 issue, we'll know something supernatural is afoot.

One-Piece Wednesday: Patricia Velasquez, 1994

Two Melissas Enter. One Melissa Leaves.

In 2008, we were presented with two remarkably similar models. Each had long, dark hair and a deep, sultry look and a sleekly solid build.

Each was named Melissa.Melissa Baker (left) and Melissa Haro (right). They could be each other’s soap opera twins—the good girl gone bad and the bad girl gone good. A yin and yang of hot brunette.They seem so alike, I almost suspect a clerical error; two statuesque, raven-tressed Melissas were accidentally entered into the database at the same time. They were even born one month and one day apart in 1987 (Haro on September 5, Baker on October 6).Clearly, only one could survive.

Haro went on to pose again in 2009.And Baker was entered into the record books as a one-hit wonder.

One-Piece Wednesday: Angie Everhart, 1995

The SI redhead against whom all other SI redheads will be judged is 42 today.

White Swimsuit Week, 2011: Part Eight

We wrap up the week with Melissa Haro, who is 24 today.More on Melissa later this week.

White Swimsuit Week, 2011: Part Seven

The ultimate White Swimsuit Party was held for the 2006 cover.The ladies look great individually too (as evidenced by the hard-hitting journalism covering the shoot). So let’s enjoy them in chronological order of their first cover appearances.

Elle.
Rachel.
Daniela.
Rebecca.
Elsa.
Yamila.
Veronica.
Carolyn.

White Swimsuit Week, 2011: Part Six

I bemoaned the absence of Molly’s abs when she appeared in a recent One-Piece Wednesday. Let’s make up for it here.

White Swimsuit Week, 2011: Part Five

Naomi Campbell, pensive in white.

White Swimsuit Week, 2011: Part Four

Angie Everhart, rocking a white bikini.