Third time's a charm: A look back at Kate Upton's journey to three SI Swimsuit covers

Take a look back at the road to three Kate Upton SI Swimsuit photos.

It’s hard to think back to a time before the gorgeous Kate Upton graced the cover of SI Swimsuit. Five years ago though, she was just dreaming of being chosen for the coveted spot.

“If I got the cover, I would be really excited. It would be really amazing,” Kate said while shooting for the 2012 issue. “It’s always what I’ve talked about. I grew up in an American family, so it always was on the coffee table and to be that girl on the magazine on the coffee table would just be really groundbreaking for me.”

Little did our bombshell know, she would be chosen as the cover model for that very issue, solidifying her spot in SI Swimsuit history and in our hearts.

2012-kate-upton.jpg

“To me, it means so much because I grew up looking at all the Sports Illustrated models and admiring all of them being from a sports fanatic family,” she said after her 2012 cover was revealed. “I know how everyone talks about how it’s such a boost to your career, but it means a lot to me personally.”

But our Kate obsession didn’t stop there ... not even close! She managed to heat up the snowy terrain of Antarctica during her 2013 shoot, proving that even the chilliest of locations couldn’t stop her sexy.

“When you think you’re going for a Sports Illustrated shoot, you think beach — sometimes it can be chilly and there’s going to be wind, but when you know you’re going to Antarctica, you know you’re going to be freezing and half naked,” Kate said. "And I was very nervous because I grew up in Florida and I don’t do well in the snow when I’m fully dressed.”

Well, our favorite Floridian babe didn’t let her nerves show as she battled frosty temperatures and posed next to penguins. The cutie conquered the cold in a barely-there bikini (because she’s basically superwoman), earning her a second cover just a year after her first.

2013-kate-upton-2013_cover.jpg

Allow Kate to walk you through how the iconic shot came to be: “This specific shot was on the boat. It was the last shot of the round and the gave me coat, which, at the time, I thought was a miracle. At one point, I was sitting on the railing and then came down. The wind of blowing and they let me put my hood up and who’ve known that would’ve been the cover?”

Sounds pretty magical to us. Agree?

After two amazing covers, our girl is making jaws drop once again with her three stunning SI Swimsuit 2017 covers *insert squeals of excitement here.* Seriously, we don’t think we’ll EVER be able to get enough Kate Upton.

See all of Kate's stunning photos from SI Swimsuit 2017! 

SWIM163_TK1_2754-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by d.bleu.dazzled, available at etsy.com.

SWIM163_TK1_2930-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by

Beauty & the Beach.

SWIM163_TK1_0826-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by

TeenyB Bikini Couture

. Jacket by

Alexandre Vauthier

.

SWIM163_TK1_2136-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by

Norma Kamali

, available at

revolve.com

.

SWIM163_TK1_1463-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Charmosa Swimwear.

SWIM163_TK1_1889-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Agent Provocateur.

SWIM163_TK1_2177-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Cali Dreaming. Top by Calvin Klein.

SWIM163_TK1_0857-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by

d.bleu.dazzled

, available at

etsy.com

. Shorts by Levi's.

SWIM163_TK1_1199-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Ola Vida.

SWIM163_TK1_2825-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by HAUS OF PINKLEMONAID.

SWIM163_TK1_1818-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Agent Provocateur.

SWIM163_TK1_0810-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by

TeenyB Bikini Couture

. Jacket by

Alexandre Vauthier

.

SWIM163_TK1_0275-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by milkbaby bikini by Cat Thordarson.

SWIM163_TK1_1740-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Belts by Luv Aj.

SWIM163_TK1_2033-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Agent Provocateur.

SWIM163_TK1_2337-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Bottom by TeenyB Bikini Couture. Top by Perfect Peach Swimwear.

SWIM163_TK1_2086-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Norma Kamali, available at revolve.com.

SWIM163_TK1_0545-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by HAUS OF PINKLEMONAID.

SWIM163_TK1_1892-rawWMFinal1920_0.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Agent Provocateur.

SWIM163_TK1_0973-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Dress by Cali Dreaming.

SWIM163_TK1_0949-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by

d.bleu.dazzled

, available at

etsy.com

.

Shorts by

Levi's

.

Kate Upton

SWIM163_TK1_0029-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Charlie by Matthew Zink. Top by G.Dias.

SWIM163_TK1_1044-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Dress by

Cali Dreaming

.

SWIM163_TK1_2467-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by Monica Hansen Beachwear.

SWIM163_TK1_0061-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_0528-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_1099-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_1103-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_1741-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_1952-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_2285-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_0683_rawDWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_0868-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_1363_rawFWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_1489-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_1536_rawEWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_2088-rawWMFinal1920.jpg

Kate Upton was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Swimsuit by

Norma Kamali

, available at

revolve.com

.

SWIM163_TK1_2575-rawWMFinal1920.jpg
SWIM163_TK1_2946_rawDWMFinal1920.jpg

Published