Elle Macpherson appeared five times on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Her first cover came in 1986, and she returned in 1987 and 1988. She later appeared again in 1994 and 2006, giving her five covers in total. The repeated appearances helped make her one of the issue’s most strongly associated models.
Macpherson’s popularity in the magazine contributed to her nickname, “The Body,” although that nickname is also sometimes incorrectly attributed solely to her general modeling career. Her Sports Illustrated work was especially influential because the annual issue reached a mass audience beyond the fashion industry.
Macpherson also worked in runway fashion, advertising, television, film, and business. The number five refers specifically to cover appearances, not every time she was photographed or featured inside the issue. That distinction explains why some informal counts differ.