Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

Beyoncé Knowles isn't shy when it comes to performing – but she had to muster up her courage to pose for the cover of this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

"It takes a lot of guts. I'm really a shy person," the singer tells the magazine. "But in my everyday world, as a musical performer, I'm playing a character. I had to tap that same character."

Making the SI cover for the annual top-selling issue propels the singer into an elite class of model whose ranks include Christie Brinkley, Elle Macpherson, Rachel Hunter, Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks. (For more swimsuit coverage, visit SI.com.)

"It's fascinating how many careers it's made, or how many have been made of it," says Beyoncé of the swimsuit issue. "They're always so beautiful."

Though the 25-year-old singer has been asked to pose in a swimsuit before, her mother says she wanted to wait for the right time. "At every shoot," Tina Knowles says of her much-photographed daughter, "they always bring some swimsuits and ask, 'Can we shoot in this?' It's always been 'No! When it's time to do swimsuits, it's going to be something big."

It doesn't get bigger than the coveted cover of SI.

To physically prepare for the shoot, the "Bootylicious" singer says she had to watch what she ate – which was especially tough because it was scheduled right after Thanksgiving. "At dinner, I kept thinking: this extra piece of pie will show up," she says. "I always make sure I celebrate it up, but I was so terrified with every little thing I ate this year."

Before the photo session, the singer relaxed by listening to some of her favorite music. "I listened to John Legend's new album. It's soothing, sexy and old school. It got me in the mood."

And once it got started, Beyoncé had a little help from her friends – and most of her family. "Kelly Rowland (of Destiny's Child) showed up. My mom was there; my nephew," she says. "Dad was going to come, but he said, 'Well, I'll, um, meet you in Orlando after the shoot. I'm not so sure that I want to see this. All my blessings; you're a big girl. But I'm not so sure I want to see it.' "

But dad had nothing to worry about. Beyoncé says she's proud of the pictures. "These are photos I can show my kids some day," she says, "so I can say, 'See, momma was beautiful. Look how good I looked!' "

Message edited 2/14/2007 10:02:41 AM.

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

I see a pattern here!

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

SI'S Swimsuit issue should have stuck with real models.

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Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

they definitely took out the airbrushing tool here!!!!

Although I really like the last pic, she looks like Tyra here.....

"that extra piece of pie" ?!?!?!?!?!??!?

Why is she eating ONE piece at all if she's working out for the cover?!!?!!?

And looking more closely, they totally changed her face and lightened her eyes........

Message edited 2/14/2007 10:26:12 AM.

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

She looks like Ashanti a little in that wet picture

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

do you think she ever gets tired of seeing herlself??

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Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

I think she is gorgeous.

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Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

Posted by JennJenn

Posted by CoopersMom01

do you think she ever gets tired of seeing herlself??

NO

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she looks HOT. I knew she had a good body, but I didn't know it was THAT good

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Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

i dont like her body

shes to small on top - she ooks good with the better cleavage shots but the others i really dont care for

shes so played out

its getting old

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

Not many butt pics...huh...I wonder why.

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Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

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Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

I think there are other "non-models" who fit the image of the SI swim suit issue much better

if this was the first time they were going with a "non-model" I think they could have made a better choice

I see the swimsuit issue - as more sporty and I don't see her as sporty at all

JMHO!

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

please she is ridiculous. can she even name 5 pro football teams??

Re: Beyoncé: SI's Swimsuit Covergirl

To be sure, same as happened to J-Lo, she is well into over exposure mode. However, I still think she is a beautiful girl. Does she get tired of looking at herself? Probably not. Admittedly, if I had that bod, and the availability of professional hairstylists and professional makeup artists, not to mention the advantage of talented air-brushers, I wouldn't get tired of looking at me either.

Hey - nobody's beatin MY door down to pose, so who am I to knock her? And she IS on the cover of the MUSIC issue of SI.