Flawless ‘SI’ Swim cover girl strips down to diamond thong, high heels

Abby Tegnelia

Flawless ‘SI’ Swim cover girl strips down to diamond thong, high heels image

Photo by John Parra/Getty Images

To celebrate a friend’s birthday, reigning Sports Illustrated cover star Lauren Chan stripped down to a diamond thong and very high heels.

In the artsy photograph, the model poses in the pitch-black dark with a bright light shining directly on her body. She has her back to the camera and peeks over her right shoulder.

“Birthday suit for @samlleephoto’s birthday 💎,” she captioned the cheeky Instagram share posted on Wednesday, October 1.

“The best gift I could’ve received,” commented the birthday boy himself, with three star-eyes emojis.

“You are ethereal,” wrote Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher, who also appears in the 2025 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. “Right back at you, you literal goddess!” Chan replied.

“Queeeeeen,” wrote another commenter.

“Classic light, beautiful shot,” added a fan. “It feels like a painting.”

“The elegance,” agreed another.

MORE LAUREN: Rare pics: ‘SI’ Swim cover girl almost bares all in eye-popping bralette

MORE LAUREN: ‘SI’ Swim cover model scorches in now-viral latex chaps and whip look

Chan, 34, is one of four cover models for the 2025 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She joined two of them — Livvy Dunne and Jordan Chiles — to walk in the magazine’s runway show to close out Miami Swim Week this past May 31. The VIP-only, sold-out show featured mostly models from this year’s issue and took place at the glamorous W South Beach. Also walking in the show were 2025 models such as Penny Lane, Xandra Pohl, Ilona Maher, Katie Austin, Nicole Williams English, Ali Truwit, Camille Kostek, Achieng Agutu, Jasmine Sanders, Alix Earle, Jena Sims and Denise Bidot.

Read More!

McCaffrey’s bronzed wife flaunts chiseled core in sizzling ‘SI’ Swim throwback

‘Unforgettable’ string bikini-clad star flaunts tiny waist for ‘SI’ Swim

Rare pic of birthday girl Livvy Dunne letting loose in tight gold mini

Abby Tegnelia

Abby is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. She has been a prolific lifestyle and celebrity news writer and editor for more than 15 years. She has served as News Director at In Touch, reporter/writer at Us Weekly, reporter at New York magazine, and has written for national and international titles including Marie Claire, Glamour, Huffington Post and Expedia.