Alix Earle opens up about 'very scary' moment in debut Sports Illustrated Swimsuit digital cover

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit is celebrating 60 years, and to mark the occasion the magazine has launched digital issues, with its first cover star Alix Earle.

The "Hot Mess" podcast host and TikTok content creator landed the new digital cover while simultaneously making her runway debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway show on South Beach for Miami Swim Week, which runs from May 29 to June 3. The issue will be available on Sports Illustrated's platforms starting Monday, June 3.

Sports Illustrated just announced its 2024 Swimsuit Issue cover stars, from Kansas City businesswoman and NFL wife Brittany Mahomes to cover stars Chrissy Teigen and "CBS Mornings" host Gayle King taking center stage at almost 70.

The lineup also includes Chanel Iman, Christen Harper, host Kamie Crawford, Katie Austin, Louisiana State University gymnastics star Olivia "Livvy" Dunne, Jena Sims and Issue icon and actress Kate Upton.

Who's in the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue? Brittany Mahomes, Gayle King and more

There is also a trilogy of special collectible covers that were captured at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit's 60th Anniversary Legends shoot, which commemorated the franchise's 60th anniversary. Legends cover stars include Lori Harvey, Maye Musk, Nina Agdal, Winnie Harlow, trans activist Leyna Bloom, model Camille Kostek, '80s icon Christie Brinkley, supermodel Tyra Banks, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, media mogul Martha Stewart, WNBA legend Sue Bird and lifestyle guru Molly Sims.

The magazine said the move to digital covers will allow the brand to engage with its swimsuit content on a more regular basis, while the swimsuit print issue will continue to be released annually.

"Our goal is to elevate the SI Swimsuit brand to new heights while staying true to our legacy of celebrating beauty, diversity and important storytelling," said famed Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor MJ Day. "With our new digital issues, we are keeping pace with the rapidly evolving media landscape while also providing additional opportunities for talent alike to share their narratives and upcoming projects with our robust audience."

Alix Earle says it was 'very, very scary' to post about her struggle with acne

In Sports Illustrated's digital cover story, Earle opened up about her decision to share an honest video about her struggle with acne in 2022. She said that she began feeling guilty about posting things that were "filtered and smoothed out" on social media, but she was afraid she would lose followers after sharing her skin issues.

"I thought no one was ever going to talk to me again," Earle told the magazine. "It sounds stupid, but your skin can take such a mental toll on you and I had been at such a mentally low place. And for me to post that online was very, very scary."

Instead, Earle's honesty helped grow her online following, and she continued to document her acne issues on social media. "Immediately the response I was getting was girls saying 'Thank you for this' or 'This is helping me so much' or 'This is so nice to see real skin.' … That was really a catapult for me to realizing how important it is to share everything about you and not just only the good, highlighted, perfect parts," she said.

Earle also told Sports Illustrated that she had anxiety about sharing her struggles with disordered eating, which she opened up about in a podcast episode.

"As scared as I was to share that, I have girls come up to me and they're also in tears telling me how much that has changed something for them or motivated them or helped one of their friends," she told the outlet. "And I think that's what makes it all worth it."

Alix Earle, sisters walk runway at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Show

Earle also walked the runway at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Show in Miami on Saturday, where she was joined by her sisters.

"Opening for the @si_swimsuit swim week show AND getting to walk it with my sisters is such a dream come true," she wrote on Instagram, sharing some photos from the event.

Earle added, "Three years ago I attended (snuck into) this show & was in complete awe. Beyond grateful to be alongside so many amazing women in the SI fam."

Contributing: Jay Stahl

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alix Earle Sports Illustrated cover: TikTok star heats up swim issue