Kate Upton lands American Vogue cover

SI Staff | May 9, 2013

Kate Upton's career keeps skyrocketing as the two-time SI Swimsuit cover model is the latest cover model for Vogue. The story, written by Lizzy Widdicomble, details Upton's rise to fame and the debate that arose after the release of the 2013 SI Swimsuit Issue.

What makes the Kate Upton era so unlikely is that the things we love about her—those curves! that personality!—defy what the word model has come to mean, at least on the runway: a seemingly endless procession of lanky, expressionless wraiths. That is most certainly not Upton’s profile. (Descriptions of her figure tend to involve euphemisms for a single word: breasts.) And yet Upton’s body has sparked debate. This year’s Sports Illustrated cover—a shot of her in Antarctica, parka open to reveal a stunning breadth of cleavage—set off a fresh round of “Is she fat?” conversations across the Internet. “It was hard at first,” she admits of hearing such rumblings. “You sit there and you’re like ‘Is something wrong with me?’ ” But she’s learned to ignore her critics—and come to regard her healthy body as a point of pride. “The things that they’re rejecting are things that I can’t change. I can’t change my bra size. They’re natural! I can work out and I can stay healthy and motivated, but I can’t change some things. I really just live my life. I love my body. It’s what God gave me! I feel confident with myself, and if that inspires other women to feel confident with their bodies, great.

Upton, who has already appeared on the cover of Vogue UK and Vogue Italia, has been busy the past few months. Since February, the 20-year-old has found a doppelgänger, been asked to a high school prom, posted one of the best tweets of 2013, been cast in a movie with Cameron Diaz, danced with Flo Rida and took first place in a cleavage contest. Is it time to start an Upton for President campaign - the 2016 election is right around the corner?

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Courtesy of Vogue