Gayle King, Kate Upton model for 60th Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Journalist Gayle King, plus-sized model Hunter McGrady and returning stars Chrissy Teigen and Kate Upton pose on separate covers unveiled on Tuesday for Sports Illustrated's 60th annual swimsuit issue.

First-time Sports Illustrated model King, the 69-year-old co-host of "CBS Mornings," smiled in a pink-and-green patterned one piece suit with spaghetti straps.

McGrady, who founded a fashion line for sizes up to 5X, wore a brown one-piece with large cutouts. She first appeared in the magazine in 2017.

Upton donned a pink and red ruffled bikini for her fourth swimsuit issue cover. Teigan, who graced the cover of the 50th anniversary issue, posed in an orange suit with a plunging neckline for the current issue, which will debut on newsstands on Friday.

The swimsuit issue debuted in 1964 and was known for showcasing skinny young women in revealing bikinis. In recent years, it has diversified its pool of models by featuring older women, larger bodies, trans models, Paralympic athletes and a woman in a burkini, a full-body swimsuit worn by some Muslim women.

"Over the past 60 years we have shattered stereotypes, embraced diversity, and championed inclusivity,” MJ Day, editor in chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, said in a statement.

In addition to the four individual covers this year, the magazine released three others featuring groups of women who had appeared in the past, including Christie Brinkley, Martha Stewart, Megan Rapinoe, Paulina Porizkova and Tyra Banks.

The women wore evening gowns in the group photos.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Bill Berkrot)