SI Makes History With Meg The Stallion, Naomi Osaka, Leyna Bloom Covers

It’s no secret we are Naomi Osaka STANS around these parts so we’re ecstatic to see this outspoken athlete on the cover.

She also makes history for the magazine, becoming the first Haitian and Japanese woman to cover the famed publication. Impressive! We love that she keeps winning both off and on the court.

Cordae’s lady is definitely BAE.

Last but not least, we have to big ups dancer/model/actress Leyna Bloom. She’s the first trans woman to cover Sports Illustrated. A huge move consider the magazine only featured their first trans model last year, Valentina Sampaio.

Like Naomi Osaka, Valentina has a multicultural heritage. She’s African-American and Filipina, with Chicago roots. A classically trained dancer (ballet, lyrical, hip hop, jazz modern, tap, and vogue) Bloom performed on the American Ballet Theater stage with Misty Copeland at the age of 14! This isn’t her first time breaking big boundaries. In 2017 Bloom became the first openly trans woman of color to appear in VOGUE India. She is also the first trans woman of color to lead a feature film at the Cannes Film Festival, which happend in 2019 with her movie Port Authority (executive produced by Martin Scorsese!!!). Bloom is starring in the upcoming feature film ‘Asking For It,’ alongside Kiersey Clemons and Ezra Miller.

She responded to making history in the comments of SI’s Instagram post, saying, “Thank you for changing my life and so many others. This is a moment in our time.”

Indeed it is!

Congratulations to Megan, Naomi and Leyna!

YES to Black women doing big things and being recognized!