Tiffany Haddish is officially entering her swimsuit issue era, but according to the comedian herself, the biggest challenge during her debut cover shoot for Sports Illustrated was less about posing and more about avoiding a full-on wardrobe disaster.
Haddish, 46, was unveiled on Tuesday, May 12, as one of four cover stars for the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue alongside Hilary Duff, Alix Earle, and Nicole Williams English. The actress and comedian appears on the cover wearing a layered orange-and-gold bikini by Same, photographed by James Macari in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Speaking about the experience, Haddish admitted her first concern wasn’t the cameras or the pressure of landing a coveted cover — it was making sure the tiny swimsuits stayed in place.
“The first thing I thought was, ‘I have to make sure my cuckoo doesn’t come out,’” Haddish joked while discussing the shoot with People.
She added that the bikinis were “itty bitty,” explaining that she was worried her “booty is going to eat this up” and said she wanted to “keep it classy.”
The spread marks Haddish’s first appearance in the long-running franchise, which has increasingly expanded beyond traditional modeling stars in recent years. The 2026 edition features a 34-woman lineup that includes Olympic athletes, WNBA champions, entertainers, influencers, and television personalities. Shoots took place across multiple locations, including Turks and Caicos, Montauk, Botswana, Florida, and Mexico.
Haddish also revealed that seeing the final cover image was emotional for her. During an appearance on Today, she said the moment felt like a childhood dream becoming reality. “I think it is gorgeous. I think it is everything that I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl,” she said after seeing the cover for the first time on-air.
Behind-the-scenes footage shared ahead of the issue’s release showed Haddish modeling several looks, including a black sequined bodysuit, a bright purple Dolce & Gabbana one-piece, and multiple colorful bikinis during the beachside shoot.
Photographer James Macari captured Haddish in shallow water and along the shoreline as part of the Mexico spread.
The actress also spoke candidly about how the experience affected her physically and mentally. In comments published ahead of the release, Haddish said preparing for the shoot forced her to reconnect with her body in a more disciplined way.
“It really got me in tune with listening to my body and being able to push it like I used to,” she said, adding that the process left her feeling proud of herself.
The 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue is already available digitally, with print editions rolling out later this month.
