Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue hits newsstands this week. Swimsuit talent scout Mel Hyper weighs in on his all-time favorites.
Recommended Stories
6. Cheryl Tiegs » She did for fishnet what Orville Redenbacher did for popcorn. Early in her career, she needed work on her shuttle run, but there was never any questioning the intangibles. Always brought her best stuff to the big stage.
5. Tyra Banks » Her Barbizon numbers were impressive. But I wanted to see her form on the runway before I made her a No. 1 pick. She pulled it off in jaw-dropping fashion and had a spectacular swimsuit career.
4. Kathy Ireland » What a motor. Her work on the treadmill was testament that you can go from the back of the issue to the cover and stay there for years. A prime-time, five-tool standout whose work ethic matched her talent.
3. Heidi Klum » Tremendous upside, tremendous from all sides. Loved her early work in SI. The question with Heidi always was: Could she take her game to the runway? After five dominant years in Paris and New York, the answer was an emphatic “Yes.”
2. Christie Brinkley » Liked her work in “Vacation.” Pool scene with Chevy Chase exposed some weaknesses, but she went to work and dispelled all the doubts. Did more with less than any of the swimsuit Hall of Famers.
1. Elle Macpherson » Maybe the top prospect in the last 30 years. All the measurables — prototype height, weight, length, wingspan. She could strut the runway in 4.3 seconds — oh, my goodness — what a pair of feet.
