It appears Anitta is doing swimmingly…
The 28-year-old Brazilian singer/songwriter appears on the pages of this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, which launched online on Monday, July 19.
Anitta is one of three musicians appearing in the issue. The other two? Megan Thee Stallion, who becomes only the second musician ever to star on the cover of the issue, and R&B singer Tinashe. This is the 58th edition of SI Swimsuit.
For Latin artists like Anitta, being featured in SI Swimsuit can not only make their reach more global, but it can also make their brand more relatable, says Isabel Paz, publicity and promotions associate director at Warner Music Latina. Paz works with artists including Anitta, Justin Quiles and Sofia Reyes.
Warner Records worked with the global Warner Music Latin team to sign the “Girl From Rio” singer last June ahead of her U.S. debut album due this year.
“I think Sports Illustrated is such a big brand that it definitely has a global reach. We don’t have Sports Illustrated in our market, like a Spanish version,” Paz tells Billboard, adding that print coverage exposes fans to a multidimensional view of their favorite singers. “It also shows another side of the artist that perhaps we wouldn’t see if they wouldn’t have been featured there. If you see them in a sports-related magazine, then you’re able to discover that this artist also has that interest. I think it just makes them more well-rounded and perhaps shows a side that is not just them on stage, but it also lets you know that the artist is capable of doing something else. It humanizes them a bit, because you can relate to them further.”
While SI Swimsuit works to “redefine the cultural conversation around beauty by celebrating a diverse group of women,” according to the publication’s statement during the annual Miami runway show earlier in July, Paz believes it has the power to celebrate “the whole variety” of Latina artists. The question remains if SI Swimsuit will continue to break grounds with whom the magazine wants to feature on the cover and in its pages in the coming years, and how many of those models will come from the music industry.
Megan Thee Stallion, Tinashe and Anitta will take the stage and perform at the official launch event for the 2021 issue on July 23 and 24 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. SI Swimsuit partnered with Hard Rock International for the two-day series of festivities, including interactive daytime events and a red carpet before the blowout concert at Hard Rock Live.
SI Swimsuit also worked with Roc Nation, where all three artists have direct and indirect management ties, to book the talent featured in its pages. Anitta signed a worldwide management deal with Brandon Silverstein’s S10 Entertainment, which is a partner of Roc Nation, in August 2019.
Anitta’s “Girl From Rio” single has been getting steady rotation at top 40 and rhythmic radio, further helping to ensure the Brazilian superstar’s long overdue breakout in the United States, with special thanks to DaBaby for his guest verse on the remix.
The 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue will be on newsstands on Thursday, July 22.
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