Two-Pièce de Résistance: Jessica White, 2009

Jessica deserved a cover.

Photo: Raphael Mazzucco

She put together an eight-year reign, which is impressive. 2009 was her sixth appearance.

This might not be the best photo of her — there are plenty that make a beautiful display of her full, stellar body — but there’s something about this one that makes me stop and stare.

There are several layers of teasing here.

There’s the direct and confident eye contact, almost a dare directed at the viewer.

Then her top is undone, which is a standard go-to teasing move. The thumb-hook, the free-hip, the objects-as-improvised-top — the hint at impending nudity is a button SI presses regularly.

And there’s something sexy about that bite. Mouths are easily sexualized, whether the model is biting a hot dog or a straw or her fingernail. But offhand, I can’t think of another photo in all of SI history where the model is closing her mouth around her own swimsuit.

And I know not everyone is as perverted as I am, but I can’t be the only person whose mind drifts to a gag being gently inserted between her teeth? No? Just me? Moving on.

Jessica was a solid and statuesque beauty with a long and gorgeous tenure. One of the greats of her decade.