*Compton, Calif., native Danielle Herrington will be the third black woman to be featured on the cover of the “Sports Illustrated” Swimsuit Issue, joining Tyra Banks (’96 and ’97) and Beyoncé (’07).
There’s a theme here: only light/Eurocentric black women are allowed on SI’s cover.
As noted by USA Today, the 24-year-old first appeared in the magazine’s swimsuit issue last year. SI Swimsuit editor MJ Day called Herrington a “natural brand ambassador.”
SI shared an Instagram video of Herrington learning from Banks that she was on the 2018 cover.
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“I can’t even believe I’m saying this. I am the 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model,” Herrington told SI. “I can’t wait for everyone to see it. I’m emotional, but I just want to say thank you to everyone who believed in me. I put in so much work for this, and I’m feeling very accomplished, happy and excited.”
While at ‘GMA‘, she received a very special message from predecessor and pioneer Banks:
So many little girls are looking at you and saying, “Oh, my gosh, that could be me one day.” There are so many people telling little girls that look like us that we’re not good enough and that we can’t achieve our goals. But by them looking at me back in the day and looking at you now, you are the living embodiment to say that dreams do come true.
Watch:
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