Model Emily Ratajkowski won from cavorting with Robin Thicke, Pharrell and rapper TI in the video for their No 1 hit Blurred Lines has paid off – as she is set to appear in a shoot for the prestigious Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
The 22-year-old brunette, who has so far been watched in action on the music video by more than 256million viewers on YouTube, has dropped a series of hints that she has been photographed for the 50th anniversary edition, which is out on February 11.
Indeed, veteran Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue editor MJ Day – who likes to tease fans – posted a picture of a brunette model on a tropical shoot who bears a striking resemblance to Emily. When asked about posing for Sports Illustrated, Emily last year told the magazine: ‘I think there’s a wonderful tradition. This year is the anniversary issue. It would be an honor to be included in that history of supermodels.’
On December 3, MJ Day posted pictures of a model looking to be Emily – but only seen from behind or the neck up, while on the same day, Emily put up a photo of an infinity pool and some beautiful folliage, saying she had arrived in ‘paradise’. he photos prompted fans to guess it was Emily – while Swedish swimwear photographer Dax Balladares tweeted to the model: ‘Congrats on SI.’
Amid the controversy of Blurred Lines – which was called ‘rape-y’ and demeaning to women – Emily admitted to GQ magazine that she had initially found the video hard to watch, saying: ‘When I first saw the video, I was like, Oh, Jesus Christ, I’m so naked. Not just naked, but so revealed.
‘It was my personality,’ she said. ‘There was no glamour involved. I was just silly and playful and kind of ridiculous – a big dork. And I only let my best friends see that. Or if I’ve had a couple of cocktails.’ However, she also told SI: ‘I don’t really feel like nudity is something to be scared of or embarrassed of. It’s a way to celebrate your body so I never felt self-conscious in general.’
Emily has now won such attention that she has claimed the role of Ben Affleck’s mistress in the big screen adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s hit novel Gone Girl – and was seen in Hollywood this month on the red carpet for the In Style and Warner Bros Golden Globes party.
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will be out on February 11 and although it’s yet unclear who the cover star will be, there are rumours it will feature more than one model on the front to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Stunning supermodel Kate Upton – who appeared on the cover in 2012 and 2013 – a feat not achieved since Christie Brinkley – is also reported to be in the edition yet again, alongside Danish model Nina Agdal.