The first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue was published on January 20, 1964. It was the brain child of Sports Illustrated editor André Laguerre — the winter months were typically a slow season for sports news, so the swimsuit issue was born to fill pages in the magazine.
Fifty years later, the swimsuit issue is no longer merely filler, but it’s grown into one of the world’s most recognized franchises — and propelled countless models to superstardom along the way.
To celebrate the swimsuit issue’s 50th anniversary, here’s every one in a single GIF:
