Pop Star Kim Petras Was a Real Life Malibu Barbie During Her SI Swim Cover Shoot

The history-making German singer nailed star moment on the front of last year‘s issue.

Ananya Panchal | Jan 18, 2024

Kim Petras was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by Natalia Fedner. Earrings by Alexis Bittar. Necklace by Logan Hollowell.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Kim Petras is a true force of nature. The SI Swimsuit model, who stunned as one of four cover girls on the front of last year’s issue, was captured by photographer Yu Tsai in Los Angeles.

Just a few months before, the German-born pop star made history as the first transgender woman to win a Grammy Award for best pop duo/group performance. She was honored alongside singer Sam Smith for their collaboration track, “Unholy.”

The 31-year-old, who released her debut single, "I Don't Want It at All" in 2017, had been making music for several years before that. As a teenager, the five-time MTV Video Music Awards nominee, was passionate about the industry and “wanted to be a part of it at any cost.”

Being featured not only in the pages of the iconic magazine, but on the coveted cover, was certainly exciting, but also extremely different than performing on stage. She’s proud to have used her platform to inspire young LGBTQ individuals and prove that you truly can do it all.

“I feel so happy when I hear from trans people in general that they’re inspired by me,” she shared. “I think what you do is the most important thing. I always try to remember that everything I do is definitely not about being transgender—it’s a part of me, but there’s so many other parts of me and I think that’s really important for me to show to people. No matter what your gender or sexuality or any of that stuff is, it’s about what you make of life and it’s about what’s inside of you.”

Below are five of our favorite photos from her 2023 SI Swim cover shoot.

Kim Petras was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Top by PatBO. Swimsuit bottom by Frankies Bikinis x Sydney Sweeney. Earrings by Alexis Bittar. Ring by Sophie Buhai.

Kim Petras was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by Angelys Balek. Earrings by Mondo Mondo. Ring by Loveness Lee.

Kim Petras was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by Heavy Manners. Earrings by Alexis Bittar.

Kim Petras was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by LILY&ROSE. Earring by Jennifer Meyer.

Kim Petras was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by Natalia Fedner. Earrings by Alexis Bittar. Necklace by Logan Hollowell.

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Published Jan 18, 2024

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.