Sports Illustrated hot new cover girl, Kate Upton, confessed one of her dreams came true when she was invited to pose in several tiny bikinis for the magazine’s cover shoot by photographer Walter Iooss Jr. in Sydney, Australia.

Kate Upton 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Cover Leaked

“This means so much for me personally,” Kate tells PEOPLE. “This has always been my dream.”

The 19 year-old bombshell, who posed for Victoria’s Secret and Guess, was given a very natural (hair and makeup) look that completely focused on her slender curves and the barely there bikinis.

Irina Shayk On Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2011 Cover (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

“In the beginning you’re pretty relaxed, you’re not thinking of new poses and it just feels really natural at that point,” she says. “At Sports Illustrated everyone’s so nice and it’s like a family, you don’t really think too much into it. I just have a lot of fun and be myself. It just comes so naturally.”

Other Sports Illustrated hotties include names like Irina Shayk (2011), Brooklyn Decker (2010), Bar Refaeli (2009), Marisa Miller (2008), Rebecca Romijn (1999) and Heidi Klum (1998).

[image: SI]