Photo courtesy of Kate Upton
We are thrilled to relay that the official announcement was made last night on David Letterman, revealing the models that would be featured in the highly anticipated 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. It turns out that APHA exhibitor and model, Kate Upton, was selected to appear not only in the Swimsuit Edition, but she also has a cameo image on the cover!
We first spoke with Upton last year when she was breaking into the international modeling scene, doing photo shoots for Macys, Avon, Nordstrom, Target, Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, among many others. Since that original article, Upton has landed national campaigns with Dooney and Bourke, was featured on the cover of Cosmopolitan Bride and was recently named the newest face of Guess Lingerie.
Last night, Upton was one of ten Sports Illustrated models to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman for the highly anticipated reveal of the Top 10 List and cover image announcement. It turns out that veteran Russian model, Irina Shayk, was announced as the SI covergirl for 2011. She has appeared in the Swimsuit edition several times, but this was her first cover.
However, our very own Kate Upton, a Sports Illustrated Rookie, scored a coveted cameo image on the cover of the 2011 magazine, along with a spread within the Swimsuit edition. This is a remarkable accomplishment considering the fact that this is Kate’s first appearance in Sports Illustrated, and she has only been modeling for the past three years.
Ironically, Kate was first “discovered” by Trump Model Management in the DFW airport, when she was on her way home from the Memorial Day Classic horse show just eight years ago. Since then, time constraints have limited her ability to continue to show, but she says that horses will always be her first love and true passion.
As an APHA youth exhibitor, Upton and Too Shiny Forya, aka “Roanie,” achieved three Reserve World Championships; in 13 and under Western Riding, 13 and Under Horsemanship and 14-18 Western Riding. In 2006, she was also named the 13 and Under Reserve All-Around Champion at the APHA World Show. In 2009, Upton and “Zipped From the Heart” won the 14-18 Western Riding.
When we spoke with Upton back in June of last year, she had hinted that she would have an exciting announcement to make in February of this year. We had no idea that announcement would entail that this talented equestrienne would appear in the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Understandably, Upton is a little busy with the recent announcement, but she has promised to give us an exclusive update, as soon as she is done appearing on David Letterman and MTV. On behalf of the Equine Chronicle, I would like to congratulate Kate Upton on this very exciting achievement and wish her much success in the future, with both her equestrian pursuits and modeling endeavors. Who knows, maybe we can combine the two with a Sports Illustrated/Equine Chronicle ad in the upcoming year… Congratulations Kate!
Be sure to visit the Sports Illustrated website to view photos of Upton, who was shot by Raphael Mazzucco on Boracay Island, in the Philippines.
Click here to view photos and videos of Kate’s experience filming for the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, on the Sports Illustrated website.
Click here to view Kate Upton’s appearance on David Letterman, on YouTube.
Click here to view Sports Illustrated presents Kate Upton video.
Click here to follow Kate Upton on Twitter.
Photo courtesy of KC Montgomery
Photo courtesy of APHA
