Salma Hayek, 58, Stuns on Sports Illustrated Cover—and Opens Up About Self-Doubt, Aging, and Her Mother's Influence

Salma Hayek, 58, Stuns on Sports Illustrated Cover—and Opens Up About Self-Doubt, Aging, and Her Mother's Influence.

Salma Hayek has always exuded confidence on screen—but behind her dazzling smile and legendary film career lies a woman who has wrestled with imposter syndrome, aging expectations, and the pressure to defy beauty norms. Now, at 58, the Oscar-nominated actress is gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, and her journey to that moment is as raw and revealing as the photos themselves.

📸 "I Tried to Back Out": Hayek Opens Up About the Cover Shoot

During a live appearance on the Today show, Hayek admitted she nearly canceled the shoot altogether.

“I said yes, and then when it was time to do it, I tried to back out,” she confessed. “The bathing suits never fit me—there’s nothing my size. I always suffer.”

Despite being globally admired for her curves and ageless beauty, Hayek shared that she struggled with a deep case of imposter syndrome.

“I still can’t believe it,” she told co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin. “I used to look at the magazine and never saw anyone who looked like me. My body’s not the model type. I never thought it was even a possibility.”

🩱 From 200 Swimsuits to One Magical Whale

To ease her anxiety, Sports Illustrated sent Hayek nearly 200 swimsuits to choose from—but over 100 had to be altered before the shoot. Unfortunately, her suitcase packed with those suits, beauty products, and medications was lost en route to the shoot in Mexico.

“Nothing was there!” she said. “So you will see, some of them don’t fit perfectly. If it looks extra small—it was accidental.”

But the moment she stepped onto the beach, something unexpected happened. A whale breached the surface just behind her, as if on cue.

“It was magical,” Hayek said. “This is my land. I’m 58. My generation, especially Mexican women, we thought we’d be dismissed at 35. I felt so free. I put on Bad Bunny, I started dancing—I loved it.”

💬 On Aging, Pressure, and the Power of Representation

Salma Hayek’s cover isn’t just another glamorous photoshoot. It’s a statement.

At nearly 60, in an industry that often sidelines women over 40, Hayek is challenging the age barrier head-on, with pride and vulnerability.

“It’s shocking to be doing this at my age. But it’s also so liberating,” she said. “I want women to know they’re not invisible. Not at 40. Not at 50. Not at 58.”

💖 “She Got It From Her Momma”: Salma’s Mother's Day Tribute

Just one day before the swimsuit cover reveal, Hayek celebrated Mother’s Day with a moving tribute to her mom, Diana Jiménez Medina.

“Feliz Día de las Madres, mamá,” she wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for the strength, the wisdom, and the endless love you’ve poured into our lives. I love you with all my heart.”

Fans flooded the post with admiration, marveling at how much Salma resembles her mother.

“Wow, your mama is beautiful. Now I know where you get your looks,” one fan wrote. Another chimed in, “She got it from her momma.”

Hayek has shared many heartfelt moments with her mother over the years—including a touching video of them dancing together and a glamorous photo from Diana’s 80th birthday, which Salma celebrated publicly alongside her Aunt Charo’s 77th.

“Mom, each year I celebrate your life with more love and gratitude,” she wrote in the birthday post. “You’ve always been my strength.”

🌍 Breaking Barriers—One Bikini at a Time

Hayek's cover shoot joins other bold moves by Sports Illustrated in 2025 to redefine what beauty means. Joining Salma on the covers are former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles, and size-inclusive model Lauren Chan—each representing strength, diversity, and visibility.

“When I was young, I didn’t see people like me in magazines,” Salma said. “So now, if even one woman sees this and feels seen—it’s worth it.”

👑 Icon, Mother, Role Model

Salma Hayek isn’t just making headlines for her looks. She’s showing up for her heritage, her age group, and for women who feel unseen. Her Sports Illustrated cover is more than skin deep—it’s about resilience, growth, and self-love earned over decades.

And perhaps most touchingly, as she dances barefoot on the beach at 58 with a whale in the distance, one thing is clear: she’s not doing it just for herself.

She’s doing it for her daughter, for her mother, and for every woman who's ever been told she's too old to shine.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Salma Hayek Pinault (@salmahayek)

The 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue hits newsstands May 17.