The “Frida” star’s current bikini cover has sparked emotions online, not just for the glamor, but also for what’s lacking. Salma Hayek, 58, appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated (SI) Swimsuit 2025, gaining widespread notice online. Some admired her confident appearance, while others questioned certain elements, prompting a heated debate on social media.
Ruven Afanador captured the “House of Gucci” actor kneeling in a tiled pool while wearing a sparkling green bikini by Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz, adorned with gold body chains and a vivid turquoise necklace by Los Angeles-based designer Jacquie Aiche. Her damp hair was slicked back, and she looked straight at the camera with calm, steady assurance.
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The startling photograph soon gained notice online, prompting conflicting comments. One commenter inquired, “Where are the wrinkles on the face?” Is it primarily makeup, filters, and lighting?”
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Someone else said, “She looks stunning, but I am puzzled about the different shapes of her belly button.” Someone questioned her look, bringing up the potential of implants.
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A fourth addressed Hayek’s prior statements about her physique, saying, “She once spoke in an interview about ‘disfiguring stretch marks.’ “It would have been lovely to see at least one. This would be beneficial for women who struggle with beauty standards every day.
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Others praised her beauty, with one saying, “She is still stunning.” “I’m glad she didn’t destroy her face with insanely horrible plastic surgery.”

Some complimented the Oscar nominee’s look as beautiful, calling her a “total goddess” and “the sexiest woman alive.” Others praised her natural attractiveness and commended her for being confident in her appearance.
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A few others defended her against age-related criticism, claiming that any backlash was likely motivated by jealousy rather than real concern. One reviewer praised the pick as age-appropriate, pointing out that it corresponds to Sports Illustrated’s current audience.
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Hayek made his debut in the magazine with this shoot. As a young woman, she looked forward to the annual swimsuit edition, but she never saw herself in its pages. “If someone had told me I would be featured in the swimsuit edition at the age of 58, I would have laughed at them, but the world has changed, and that’s exciting,” she told me.
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The “Without Blood” actress never pictured herself on the cover, especially because she didn’t see herself in the magazine growing up. “Because the women didn’t look like me,” she remarked. “My body isn’t necessarily the model type.”
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She also sees the SI cover as more than just a personal achievement; it represents a larger societal change in how aging women are perceived. She considers herself lucky to be part of a generation that has seen significant improvement. “I could retire, but I don’t want to lose out on this moment,” she said.

She found it “remarkable” that SI would highlight a lady over 50 without requiring her to adhere to antiquated beauty standards.

In another interview, Hayek discussed her approach to aging. She admitted that she never followed beauty trends, instead depending on radio-frequency and energy-based therapies in her 30s, 40s, and 50s.
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However, after hitting a “plateau,” she started feeling more sagging in her neck and considering surgery, which she was hesitant to do. “I told myself, It’s time,” she stated, describing the moment she started to look into alternatives.
While exploring for alternatives to surgery, she came upon a noninvasive procedure that uses ultrasound to promote collagen. After learning more about it, she decided to give it a try and later became its advocate. Her doctor informed her that she had enough collagen for her age, which she found encouraging and felt secure about.
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Despite undergoing noninvasive methods, Hayek is still devoted to accepting natural aging. “I am an actor, a mother, and a wife, and I want my expressions to be genuine. “I want my kids to look at my face and know when I’m proud of them and when I’m unhappy,” she stated.
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She decides not to color her hair since coloring changes its texture and makes it more difficult to manage. “It starts getting frizzy in a strange way,” she told me. “It’s not healthy and doesn’t look good.”
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Hayek believes that accepting faults is part of being entirely oneself, whether it’s revealing signs of age or boldly donning a bikini. “Well, that’s not all of me, but at least it’s more sides of me,” she told me.
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Hayek also discussed how age has enabled her to overcome the limitations others imposed on her early in her career. She stated that she previously felt pressured to minimize her intelligence to match the industry’s restricted standards. “I stopped dumbing myself down because the industry thought I was just sexy,” she told me.
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With her youngest kid about to go to college, Hayek says she’s ready to embark on her next chapter, which she and her husband, French businessman François-Henri Pinault, have long planned. She described it as a chance to fully explore her potential.

This approach applies to her social media presence. In a 2020 Instagram post, she published a makeup-free photo with strands of gray hair, describing it as “the white hair of wisdom” in Spanish and French. The essay emphasized her long-standing dedication to honesty, self-acceptance, and an open approach to aging.
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That devotion to authenticity resurfaced in Paris, when Hayek’s appearance and desire to adopt a natural style gained much notice.
She went to an art show at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, France, and posted many images from the occasion on social media on March 5. However, these photographs emphasized the magnitude of the presentation and attracted attention to her hairstyle.
Hayek captioned this sequence of photographs with her thoughts on the show, “Corps et Ames (Bodies and Souls).” She posted, “I was so happy to attend yesterday with my family the opening of the exhibition ‘Corps et Ames’ at Bourse de Commerce (@boursedecommerce) in Paris.”

She went on to detail the collection, which included pieces by Auguste Rodin, Ana Mendieta, David Hammons, and Marlene Dumas. She pointed out that many of the featured artists are rarely seen in Paris.

While the event was a celebration of art, people were drawn to Hayek’s current look, notably her classic-inspired haircut and graying hair.

Some netizens expressed amazement. Someone said, “Salma, I’m just another fan, and I say this with love—you always look spectacular, and your face is gorgeous, but unfortunately, that hairstyle doesn’t flatter your facial structure.”

Another person tweeted, “There’s more white coming into your hair, @salmahayek; soon it will be completely all white soon [sic].” One internet user was more blunt, stating, “Salma, please do something with your hair.” This color does not look good on you.”

Others, however, praised her decision to confidently accept the natural aging process. An admirer said, “Salma…, [sic] you look lovely with your crown of hair.” You are a queen.” Another admirer said, “Aging with grace🧞✨️.” Another user remarked, “Wow, Salma is aging beautifully 👌🏿❤️.”
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However, people have already discussed Hayek’s graying hair. As previously reported, the “Desperado” actress drew attention with a social media post on August 26, 2024.
Hayek easily displayed her ageless beauty and everlasting confidence while posing in a well-fitted yellow two-piece swimsuit and sunglasses. She captioned the photo, “Yellow bikini + white hair = the perfect combination. #ibiza.”

The “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” diva flaunted her graying hair as she gazed out at the breathtaking sights. She painted her toes a bright red, adding a fun splash of color to her appearance. With a calm expression on her face and her curves showing, she oozed elegance and summer happiness.
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Salma Hayek sparked quite the debate after releasing the two photos. One follower praised her gray hair, writing, “Grey hair is your crown 👑 of wisdom from God.” Your crown of splendor, Majesty! “You’re a beautiful queen.”

However, several followers voiced worry, with one asking, “Hey, what’s up with you? You look so skinny. Still beautiful, but I’m just saying. 😍”
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Another follower noticed a pattern in her photos, saying, “I’ve always admired her confidence, but it appears like every photo she shares is a bikini image. Maybe it’s a coincidence… But it would be good to see other accomplishments she is proud of.”

Hayek has been showing off her gray hair in social media pictures as she embraces aging. On June 6, 2023, she uploaded a makeup-free selfie to Instagram, focusing in on her features. She left a message: “I woke up and counted how many white hairs and wrinkles had crashed the party this morning.”
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On July 27, 2023, she posted more selfies on Instagram, joking that she had a secret to covering her gray hair without dying. “Don’t wear your glasses 👓 on your hair!!! 😜😹. Bring on the wisdom🦉,” she noted alongside selfies showing off her graying hair.