Sports Illustrated 2009 Swimsuit Event

February 11th: I was the envy of all my friends when they found out I was going to the launch party for the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which features 33 gorgeous beauties in both real and painted-on bikinis. Yes, that’s right. Hot models wearing nothing but body paint, and I can honestly say that they are just as beautiful in real life as they are in the magazine.

Press were given a free copy of the magazine and a list of the models’ bios, including an interesting fact about each one. For example, did you know that Brooklyn Decker, who is appearing in the Swimsuit Issue for the fourth time this year, was named after a horse named Brook and not the borough we all know and love? Through the press kit I also learned that the models were “turned loose” in their hometowns and asked to bring back snapshots of their wild sides, all of which can be found at SI.com/candids.

I have to hand it to the Sports Illustrated marketing team – they do not hold back in times of recession. In addition to the New York City party (which had a top-shelf open bar and plentiful hors d’oeuvres), there was a bigger and better launch party in Las Vegas where guests were treated to a live performance by John Legend. How, you ask, did the models get from their February 11th NYC party to their February 12th Vegas party? Why in their very own Swimsuit branded airplane! “SI One” marks the first time that Southwest airlines has wrapped a plane virtually nose-to-tail with an image of a semi-nude woman. SI One is going to fly throughout the regular Southwest route system for a limited time, so book your tickets stat, and don’t be shocked when you see a giant bikini-clad woman flying through the sky.

Okay, back to the party. It was held at and catered in-house by Pranna, an enormous 15,000 square-foot restaurant at Madison Avenue and 28th Street. The passed hors d’oeuvres were so good that Mo temporarily suspended her vegetarianism for the night to enjoy some of Pranna’s chicken satay. On the tables were sprinkled some SI-branded chocolate poker chips – a cute tie-in to the Vegas event – which I quickly shoved into my purse. The crowd was oddly 95% men in business suits – the models rushed out as soon as they finished walking the red carpet. I guess they had a flight to catch.

-Rachel

 

 

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