Gayle King is making waves and turning heads on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s 60th anniversary issue, and she’s got a hilarious message for her ex-husband.
The CBS Mornings co-host, 69, had a candid chat with Entertainment Tonight on May 16, spilling all the juicy details about her stunning magazine cover that hit stands on May 17. King, who’s always been an inspiration, joked about sending a copy of her cover to her ex-husband, Bill Bumpus.
“Both of my kids told me, ‘Mom, this is really cool. We’re very proud of you,’” King shared with a laugh. “I wonder what my ex-husband is saying. I’m gonna send him a copy!”
Gayle and Bumpus, an attorney, tied the knot in 1982 and share two children: daughter Kirby, 38, and son William, 37. They split in 1993, but it seems Gayle’s still got a sense of humor about their past.
King is one of the few special solo cover models for the anniversary edition, joining the ranks of Hunter McGrady, Chrissy Teigen, and Kate Upton. The issue also features legends like Brooklyn Decker, Christie Brinkley, Tyra Banks, and even Martha Stewart.
“It has sunk in, but it’s still mind-blowing to me, honestly,” King told ET. “I used to look at it all the time, myself… never in a gazillion years did I think I would be that person.”
King’s cover shoot is not just about looking fabulous; it’s also about inspiring other women. “What’s been most interesting to me is the number of women who’ve been stopping me, saying, ‘You have no idea what an inspiration this is,’” she added.
In a chat with PEOPLE, King opened up about her preparation for the shoot, learning from fellow models, and getting tips from the SI Swimsuit team, including editor-in-chief MJ Day. “When you’re around models who know what the hell they’re doing, it really does require a different kind of skill set,” she said. “Tyra, by the way, was showing me how to pose. I liked having a personal lesson from Tyra Banks.”
King also joked about her pre-shoot diet. “I said, ‘Well, is cottage cheese good on thighs?’ She goes, ‘Yes, Gayle. Actually, it is,’ because I was very worried about that,” King recounted, laughing.
The photo shoot turned out to be a great experience for King, and she even got her request for “tasteful cleavage” fulfilled. “There were a couple of bathing suits that they pulled out. I said, ‘I ain’t wearing that. I ain’t wearing that,’” she recalled. “I was always on board with tasteful cleavage, I call it… I wanted tasteful cleavage, and they delivered on all of that.”
Gayle King’s Sports Illustrated cover isn’t just a big deal—it’s a fabulous celebration of confidence, humor, and timeless beauty. And let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to send a sizzling reminder to their ex?
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