Derek Jeter’s girlfriend Hannah Davis last night landed the prestigious cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2015 edition, a move that will turn her into a star.
Davis, 24, appeared on on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” Wednesday night to announce her first appearance on the cover, where she is seen in a bikini shot by fashion photographer Ben Watts at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee.
This is a huge coup for the model, who has been dating retired Yankee star Jeter for over two years, as previous SI cover stars including Kate Upton and Irina Shayk have gone on to become top models.
Hannah, who has appeared in the SI Swimsuit edition for two years, though this is her first cover, was quoted as saying, “I told my mom there was no way I’d get the cover … I told her, ‘They do beaches for covers and I’m on a farm. There’s no way. It’s not possible.’”
The model, who cried when she was told she’d landed the cover, added, “I am both shocked and excited to be this year’s cover model. This has been a lifelong dream of mine and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity.”
“The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is viewed by more 18- to 24-year-olds than the Super Bowl,” Fallon joked before revealing Davis was the winner, “except nobody locks the door before the Super Bowl.”
Davis appears on the cover alone, which is a departure from last year’s 2014 cover, which featured three models — John Legend’s wife, Chrissie Tiegen, Nina Agdal and Lily Aldridge.
Prior to that, Kate Upton had ruled as queen of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition, landing the cover twice in a row while she was pictured on the back cover in 2014. After her first cover, she went on to modelling success in both the fashion world for magazines including CR Fashion Book and Vogue, as well as landing contracts for brands including Express and a role in Cameron Diaz’s movie “The Other Woman.”
Davis has never spoken about her relationship with famously private Jeter, who announced upon his retirement that he is ready to settle down and start a family. However, it is not known how he feels about the cover, as sources have previously said he prefers to keep his relationships low-key.
She was seen with Jeter when he celebrated his 40th birthday last June and over the weekend at Super Bowl celebrations in Arizona. On Tuesday — the night before the big announcement — she was spotted with Jeter and Michael Jordan dining at Tarbells in Phoenix.