Salma Hayek Pinault is the latest celebrity to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated‘s Swimsuit issue – a feat she never thought she’d be accomplishing, especially now.
The Academy Award-nominated actress shared with the outlet, “I remember when I was young, a long, long time ago, I was always excited to see the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated, and [thinking] ‘Who’s going to be in it?’
“Of course, I didn’t look like a model, so it never crossed my mind that one day I would be in it.
“If somebody had told me I was gonna be in it at 58, I would have sent them to the madhouse, but the world has changed, and that’s exciting.”
READ MORE: James Middleton on his sister Kate’s cancer diagnosis
The cover features her wearing a bikini and striking a pose, levelling her gaze at the camera. It was shot in the pools of the Cuixmala luxury resort in Mexico by photographer Ruven Afanador.
The 58-year-old expressed her gratitude for the opportunity.
“I feel so fortunate that I am part of a generation that has been able to really experience very tangible change,” she continued.
“I could retire, but I don’t want to miss out on this time.
READ MORE: Kim Kardashian’s defiant statement as she steps out to testify in Paris robbery trial
“I fought for it, you know, and I’ve been part of it, and I think it’s really remarkable that a magazine like Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] says that it’s OK, maybe even cool, to be past 50 and still be able to feel not just sexy, but for me, to be free and not be self-conscious of your body like you have to hide.
“I don’t see why after a certain age, we have to retract ourselves from embracing life to the fullest.”
It’s not the first time the Frida actress has spoken out about age.
For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here
“There was a time when I was the sexy girl, but thank God age came and gave me the ability to expand to other territories,” she told Marie Claire in March before cheekily adding, “Although I’m still sexy and I embrace it.
“Another calling that I have is to remind everyone that women are not disposable after a certain age in any department. We should battle that with all we’ve got.”
Star’s heartwarming nod to husband hidden in this photo
She does this in a personal capacity by often posting close up pictures of herself with no makeup and her grey hairs in full view, and even attending high-profile events rocking them.
In one such post from 2023, her wrinkles and white hairs glistened in the sun as she wrote, ”Me waking up and counting how many white hairs and wrinkles have crashed the party this morning.”
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
