xoxorae

These wannabe ballet type poses are so awful, you can tell none of them were dancers - or were bad ones. And Alexis looks like the next generation Samantha Hoopes. Those two are probably the worst so far.

Based on this years lineup and the shift of the last few years, I get the impression MJ's trying to shift the demographic of SI toward females so she's maybe trying to pick models that would appeal to the feminist, woman power audience. Which isn't bad and, to be fair, I actually know more women that follow it than men nowadays, but she's still missing the mark even among women, I think. It seems like the lineup is mostly the weakest of the weak. The only rookies I really care for are Chase and Robin, but even then, they feel more VS than SI to me so my liking them is mostly just 'cause I like them as models, not 'cause I like them for this issue. The veterans are tragically weak. Barbara is probably the strongest of the lot, but at this point, I'm actually drawing a blank on which vets are even in the magazine this year because the whole thing has been so... anticlimactic, I guess? The hype just isn't there. Unlike most of y'all, I actually think it's cool that she's trying to go for plus size models, but she's choosing bad models. Most of them aren't that pretty face-wise and their posing is really unflattering. They aren't exactly athletic, but they have flat stomachs, they don't have "fat rolls," and they're probably not quite in the "obese" category, but the swimsuits and posing makes them look way bigger. Every model has to pose to their body type and these models seem to think they can pose exactly the same as any skinny model, but even skinny models have to pose to their strengths. Models with shorter legs, shorter necks, less prominent hips, etc. This is just making some of them look even bigger than they are and instead of "celebrating" body diversity it's sort of highlighting their flaws and asking for people to drag them through the mud. Then you have Anna who looks like she's posing for Playboy and dissolving any semblance of having hips, Alexis looks like Sam Hoopes 2.0, Ravn and Ebonee are boring as hell, and most of the models look like they're just standing in front of a camera. What happened to the days when they actually looked like they were having fun?

Since SI is building a “brand” with their own signed models and year ‘round campaigns, I wonder if the casting calls are for that too. Like they’re going to keep posting them regardless of whether they make this issue because they could make the cut for something else.

Because she’s been going through drivers ed for forever? Usually the progression from there is getting a license. There’s nothing wrong with not having one, but it’s a bit funny.

Wait, let me fix that for you... “Come on, Sara is a fashion model, not a nude model. If you want someone to pose without clothes on then don’t ask a fashion model. I’m very angry about nude magazines who agree to have fashion models pose with clothes on. If you want nude models, you have plenty of models, but please don’t ask a fashion model to pose clothed if you don’t want want her to pose clothed.”

It's hard to say, but if rumors are true and she's due 'around May,' I'd say she's going on seven months.

If they're going to start including new plus-size ladies every year, I'd love to see Iskra Lawrence as a rookie.

I actually think these three covers are better than any of the covers she did before.

That thumbnail of Kate for 2017 is stunning, though.

I think the first unknown body paint is Kate.

Access Hollywood is filmed both in California and in New York so it's possible she's heading out.

I've seen several people tag Kate Upton on Jimmy Kimmel tonight so I think it's safe to say she got the cover, unless they're trolling en masse.

Now that the Jimmy Kimmel taping is over, I'm surprised no one has leaked who got the cover.

Well, Kate Upton was seen leaving LAX so we at least know she's in LA, if the rumors are true.

The boobs on the plus size model don't seem to match Hunter's, though. She's large chested and if anyone knows anything about women with large chests, when you lay on your stomach, they spread out quite a bit and you would see far more "spill over" to her sides. Even up on her elbows, Hunter has a lot of "side fat" along her bust and there's nothing holding her boobs in place since she's topless so her boobs would be all over the place. Whoever that is looks several cup sizes smaller to me.

It's odd that MJ posted on her instagram and Twitter about Kelly and Myla, but not Lais. Must not be a fan.

I think it's safe to say Irina is out. She's doing the VSFS this week and unless she's one of the unidentified models (doubtful), I don't think there's enough time to shoot at this last location.

i don't think it's the bahamas since it's only an 8 hr flight from lax. i don't think those two pictures are si either since the following picture, seemingly from the same location, is of simone holtznagel. it wouldn't make sense unless they either spoiled simone being a rookie or it's for something completely different.

could model #2 at the third location be rachel barnes? their torso's seem to have a similar shape and they both have super prominent veins on their inner elbows.

could it be hannah ferguson? the hair immediately reminded me of her, especially the length

the last time i remember him shooting was when tori praver was still in the mag, but i don't remember what year that was. 2008 maybe? regardless, i think si could do much worse ( and has been ) than walter chin.

actually, this might make sense with the boas and color sceme of the suits. could be some kind of glam carnival type theme?

i take it this is where they're shooting, anyone got any ideas? edit: i just noticed the tags so it might not be si, but i'm curious, since she was just at coachella, where she would have gone to shoot si so quickly.

at this rate it feels like we're going to start getting 2017 casting calls before we even get roty

i think it's actually fantastic that everyone here (and on social media, in interviews, etc.) continues debating ashley's cover/general inclusion in the magazine so much. you may not agree with it, you may find her unattractive or unhealthy, but guess what? you're talking about her cover more than the other covers, you're making her cover more popular, you're making people pay attention to her. whether you like it or not, every single time it's talked about, you're promoting her in a way i'm positive mj, ashley, and their entire crew expected. perhaps it was even the reason they put her on the cover. nevertheless, you're not going to persuade people to your side with words (either side of the debate), but you are going to persuade people to take a closer look at beauty standards and come to their own conclusions. so i hope more famous people continue to talk about her, even if it's negative.