Tiffany Haddish Stuns in Swimsuit Cover, Sparking Reactions Over Her Look — Photos

The comedian turned cover model proves that reinvention has no expiration date.

Tiffany Haddish, 46, has officially been named the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2026 cover star, with the photos released on May 12, 2026. The shoot was captured by photographer James Macari in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, and the images show a side of Haddish that many fans are seeing for the very first time.

On the cover, Haddish wears an orange and gold two-piece, a halter-style top knotted at the center layered over a shimmering gold underlayer, with matching bottoms tied at the hips with thin orange strings.

She kneels in shallow turquoise water, one hand behind her head and the other resting on her hip, against a backdrop of jagged dark rocks and arid brown mountains under a clear blue sky.

For Haddish, this cover is not a coincidence.

Speaking to People, she traced the ambition back to her track and field days, when she believed she would one day be on a cover as a record-breaking high jumper. "When I used to do track and field, I thought I would be on the cover because I would be the most highest jumper of all time [sic]," she said.

When her athletic career didn't materialize, and she shifted into stand-up comedy, she says she "gave up on that dream" of modeling, but added, "But it was always in the back of my mind."

Then came a serious setback. While filming her 2019 comedy special "Black Mitzvah," she tore the menisci in both knees, which seemingly crushed her hopes of appearing in Sports Illustrated.

She admitted to gaining weight afterward and nearly giving up until she met Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner. He helped her rehabilitate her injuries and regain her strength, and as she recovered, she started to believe in her goals again.

"Then it was like, 'Wait a minute, I could be a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model,'" she continued. "'I just need to put that out there.' And so, I put it out there. And ta-dah."

Getting in front of the camera in a swimsuit pushed Haddish in ways she didn't expect, and the experience helped her reconnect with her body and regain her former ability to push her physical limits. Because of this, she felt a deep sense of pride.

But it also came with real physical demands, like scraping her knees on the rocks. That's how she realized that modeling isn't an easy career. Additionally, Haddish admitted she was nervous, but the crew put her at ease quickly, and she spent the entire shoot listening to Rihanna.

There were a few wardrobe concerns along the way. "You're in the ocean. The ocean likes to take your clothes off," she joked, commenting that some of her body parts also wanted to be on camera.

Meanwhile, to stay grounded between shots, she leaned on self-affirmations, calling herself a goddess and amazing. Beyond her own experience, she hopes the photos land differently for women who see them, as she wants them to understand that you can always change how you look.

Of course, the Instagram reveal drew a strong response from fans, with many flooding the comments. "Somebody's been working you look amazing," one person wrote.

Another asked, "Is that her real face or surgery. WOW," while a third shared, "Your look strong and beautiful! Congratulations on the cover!"

Over on Facebook, reactions were more mixed. "I didn't realize that Tiffany Haddish has such a beautiful figure until now! She is beautiful on the Cover of the Sports Illustrated Magazine," wrote one commenter.

Others were more skeptical, adding comments like, "That looks nothing like her.." and "She looks different from in person that's a filter [sic]". A more measured take simply said, "She's been working out."

Whether the photos spark debate or admiration, they are clearly sparking something. Scroll to see her transformation for yourself:

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2026: The Cover Reveal