In the 80s, Sports Illustrated was sexier

Every year, the same old hub-bub: Sports Illustrated has a new edition of their annual swimsuit edition. Everyone goes crazy-insane for the latest half-naked photos of models we've never heard of before now.

But everyone remembers these names: Christie Brinkley, Kathy Ireland, Paulina Porizkova. And they didn't have to be nearly nude to get our attention (though that would have been fine too).

Here are your SI Swimsuit Cover Models for the 80s again. Just enjoy.

• 1980: Christie Brinkley
• 1981: Christie Brinkley
• 1982: Carol Alt
• 1983: Cheryl Tiegs
• 1984: Paulina Porizkova
• 1985: Paulina Porizkova
• 1986: Elle Macpherson
• 1987: Elle Macpherson
• 1988: Elle Macpherson
• 1989: Kathy Ireland

Want full size replicas of each cover? Click here to find copies for sale from Mo Publishing.

Comments

[Jeff in Cuba]

The 80's versions may have been hotter than today's, but nothing will ever match the cataclysmic hormonal impact of the 1978 issue:

Cheryl Tiegs.

Fishnet bikini.

[Spears]

I'm partial to the first use of seashells as a bikini. Not sure what year it was, but I applaud it nonetheless.

[John Hays]

Best ever was just one word. Elle.

[Walter Cox]

You are my hero, Steve Spears. At least for today.

[Tonka]

I was always a fan of the 1981 Christie Brinkley, but then again, I was born that year.

And I second the "you are my hero" motion. When I got into my teens in the early 90's...these really helped out a lot! TMI, I know!

[jane]

*tiptoes into the boys' club*

While you gentlemen were enjoying the charms of the SI Swimsuit models, we ladies had our own delights as well. Gotta represent for the fairer sex, at least a little.

This -- or something very similar -- hung over my desk in the high school yearbook office. For all four years I was on staff.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/juanita927/Palmerbmp.jpg

Carry on.

*tiptoes out*

[Mike in Austin]

Jane, I am laughing my ....e off at that pix! Who in gods name is that, a buffed out Ted Danson with his own hair, or a Lorenzo Lamas look alike or a steriod enhnaced young Willem Dafoe? And to think you still have the pix!!

[jane]

Ah, Mike -- the hot, hirsute fellow on the poster is none other than former Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher and erstwhile Jockey underwear model Jim Palmer. And he was totally The Sex to my adolescent self.

I still can't believe that I was able to get away with having that hang on the wall at school -- it probably helped that the yearbook advisors were both women. That's not my actual picture, but I'll be damned if it doesn't look like it could be, right down to that fancy paneling.

[Bassnote]

I have to agree with Jeff In Cuba. The fishnet bikini was the awakening for me.

[Tonianne]

Citizen Jane, rep-re-sentin' and keeping it fair and balanced as always...

Scott Madsen, aka the "No Pain, No Gain" Soloflex ab-god-in-a-wife-beater was plastered to my locker and bedroom wall all throughout high school. My mom thought my preoccupation was "cute."

By the time the Mitch Gaylord Soloflex poster announcing "A Hard Man is Good to Find" joined my shrine to all-things Soloflexed, mom was threatening to take my scotch tape away and send me to an all-girls boarding school.

Because we all know how well THAT worked for Virginia Madsen in Fire with Fire.

[Marissa]

I guess I preferred men who kept their clothes on. I didn't overtly lust any man who was scantilly clad. I had pictures of Duran Duran in my room, but no chest baring hunks.
I think my 7th grade experience of seeing Playgirl scarred me for a long time.

[jane]

Way to go, Tonianne. I remember Mr. Soloflex very well...

[Jeff in Cuba]

Upon further (and repeated) review, Cheryl's 1978 suit was not a bikini, but a fishnet one-piece.