‘Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue’ Cover Backlash: Are Hannah Davis’ Bikini Bottoms Too Low?

Hannah Davis snagged the coveted cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, but her sexy pose has stirred up a bit of controversy, with some saying she’s showing a bit too much skin.

Hanna Davis Bikini Bottoms Backlash

Davis, 24, was named this year’s Swimsuit Issue cover girl on Wednesday, when her cover debuted on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. In the sexy pic, Davis poses in a tiny bikini on a farm. A model wearing a microscopic bikini on the cover is nothing new for the SI Swimsuit Issue, but this cover has sparked backlash with just how low Davis is pulling her already miniscule bottoms.

SURPRISE!!! Introducing the 2015 #SISwim cover model, @hanni_davis! pic.twitter.com/S22VRvo4Fy

— SI Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) February 5, 2015

In fact, looking at the photo, it almost looks as if the bottoms are one-millimeter away from exposing Davis and making the cover more pornographic than seductive.  

SI Swimsuit cover girl Hannah Davis has a PHENOMENAL bikini waxer https://t.co/3U5284KuEm pic.twitter.com/dM9EtrRMOA

— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) February 5, 2015

Issues past have featured cover models in nearly identical poses. Bar Refaeli struck the same pose on the cover of the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, as did Tyra Banks in 1997. Those covers, however, were also shot from a bit farther away, and appear much less photoshopped.