Swimsuit

These SI Swim Throwback Photos of Cover Model Carol Alt in the 1980s Will Give You All the Nostalgia

The supermodel returned to the Miami Swim Week runway just shy of 10 years after her last magazine appearance.

Ananya Panchal

Carol Alt.

Carol Alt.

Carol Alt made her SI Swimsuit debut in 1981 in Florida and landed the cover just one year later, after her photoshoot with John G. Zimmerman in Kenya. The supermodel was featured in the magazine six times between ’81 and ’89, and returned in 2014 for SI Swimsuit’s 50th anniversary issue.

The 62-year-old made a fabulous comeback this weekend when she walked the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show at Miami Swim Week. The July 7 event was held at the W South Beach. Read more about the iconic moment, and shop Alt’s two stunning looks here.

Carol Alt.

Carol Alt.

In honor of the moment, we are throwing it back to 17 of the actress and model’s best photos from the 1980s.

1981

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Florida.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Florida.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Florida.

1982

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Kenya.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Kenya.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Kenya.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Kenya.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Kenya.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in Kenya.

1983

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Jamaica.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Jamaica.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Jamaica.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Jamaica.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Jamaica.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Jamaica.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Jamaica.

1984

Carol Alt was photographed by Paolo Curto in Aruba.

Carol Alt was photographed by Paolo Curto in Aruba.

Carol Alt was photographed by Paolo Curto in Aruba.

1987

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in the Dominican Republic.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in the Dominican Republic.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in the Dominican Republic.

Carol Alt was photographed by John G. Zimmerman in the Dominican Republic.

1989

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Kauai, Hawai’i.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Kauai, Hawai’i.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Kauai, Hawai’i.

Carol Alt was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in Kauai, Hawai’i.

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Ananya Panchal
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.

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