Lily Aldridge: A crash course

Rebecca Shore | Feb 15, 2014

LILY ALDRIDGE is the first rookie to grace the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue in 16 years, but this brunette stunner is no rookie to the fashion industry. Let's take a look at how she earned her place right between Nina Agdaland Chrissy Teigen.

Lily Aldridge at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show after party, November 2013 :: Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

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For one, she's no stranger to cover shoots:

August 2006 :: Amica (Germany)

November 2013 :: Tatler (UK) by Marc Hom

August 8, 2013 :: The Edit (US) by Ben Weller

April 2013 :: Elle (Brazil) by Eduardo Rezenee

August :: Vogue en Español

May/June 2011 :: Ocean Drive magazine by Chris Colls

January 2011 :: GQ (UK) by Vincent Peters

December 2010/January 2011 :: Vegas magazine by Chris Colls

Fall 2010 :: Victoria's Secret catalogue

Spring 2010 :: Victoria's Secret catalogue

December 2013 :: Elle (Korea) by Hong Jang Hyun

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Nor is she a stranger to photographer James Macari.

James Macari for Galore magazine, Sept. 2013

James Macari for Galore magazine, Sept. 2013

James Macari for Galore magazine, Sept. 2013

James Macari for Galore magazine, Sept. 2013

James Macari for Galore magazine, Sept. 2013

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Fame isn't new to her either, having grown up in Los Angeles in a family of models and artists . . .

With younger sister, model Ruby Aldridge (far left) and mother and former model Laura Lyons (center)

With her father, British artist Alan Aldridge :: instagram.com/@lilyaldridge

With older sister and model Saffron Aldridge :: Getty Images

. . . and she's gone on to start her own family of artists with husband and Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Folowill:

At their wedding in May 2011 (left); with baby Dixie in October 2012

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But the world is probably most familiar with her work as a Victoria's Secret Angel, a promotion she earned in 2010:

With Candice Swanepoel and Adriana Lima in 2010 :: FilmMagic

At the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

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This photo from 2009 is proof that she did the ombre hair thing before everyone else did:

Getty Images

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She played a small role in this K.O.L. video, "Use Somebody . . . "

. . . and, some stories say, inspired this song, which—if true—is flattering:

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She's shown a knack for designing with her line for Velvet Tees (click the picture for more):

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But we must admit, we've more excited than ever to see what she does next, now that she's joined our family!

James Macari/SI