'Sports Illustrated' Swimsuit Event: The Models Talk Bikinis! (PHOTOS)

The iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue debuted on Tuesday (although it leaked on the Internet on Monday, as these things tend to do), and the bevy of lucky models who graced the pages gathered in New York on Valentine's Day night to celebrate the magazine at Crimson nightclub.

The models all braved the cold in barely-there ensembles, like Genevieve Morton in a Herve Leger bandage dress, who told The Huffington Post she prefers equally skimpy suits: "I liked the one-piece that was pink because it was unusual to shoot a one-piece that has a thong back."

But lucky Crystal Renn got to bundle up more for the red carpet, looking elegant in black Zac Posen. As she explained, "I do love my leather."

Renn also told us that while she didn't get nervous while shooting her first ever SI swimsuit issue, she did have a moment of anxiety afterwards:

"I wasn't nervous at all in front of the camera. That's when I'm least nervous. It's after the shoot, that's more difficult because it's out of your control, it's in the hands of others. But luckily, I love all the images and I would have chosen them myself."

Her favorite swimsuits? "Anything red. Everyone was wearing tons of red [in the issue]."

Bar Refaeli, clad in a skintight electric blue Pucci dress, said she got to take home her favorite Herve Leger suit. Alyssa Miller, whose plunging Isabel Marant suit wowed onlookers, said that she got to keep 20 suits from the shoot.

And then there was famous cover girl Kate Upton, who dazzled everyone in red Lanvin. Upton remained mum on rumors she's dating Jets player Mark Sanchez, but she did walk the red carpet (in red Lanvin) with Giants star Victor Cruz.

When Kate's choosing a suit for herself, it's no surprise: she told us she looks for suits that are "really small, really tiny."

We're not complaining.

Check out photos from the event below to ease your way into the day with some tall, gorgeous models.

Comments

[HiramWdwsn]

03:09 AM on 02/21/2012

Call me shallow but I want them all..some less and some more...

[cpaigethomas]

03:56 PM on 02/18/2012

whatever.....they were nervous ...who cares? That women are so desperate to be photographed that they are willing to be part of such a juvenile scheme to sell magazines is just sad. Look SI needs to sell mags after the super bowl, before the NCAA tourney, the NBA finals and baseball. So let's put some breasts on the cover.....snooze.

[mbhavang]

11:19 PM on 02/16/2012

'Sports Illustrated' Swimsuit See More Pics @ http://goo.gl/Ddou6

[thejadedentrepreneur]

09:56 AM on 02/16/2012

I'm all about living a fit and healthy lifestyle and doing better for your body but in Crystal Renn's case, she lost all her beauty when she lost weight. Her face was skinny when she was heavier, now it's just gaunt and she's average at best compared to girls in my part of the country. Put some weight back on, Crystal. You looked like a goddess before, now you're an every girl!

[lilbunnyfufu]

08:45 PM on 02/16/2012

I agree with everything you have said.

[Salvador Dali]

08:52 PM on 02/15/2012

It's a shame women can't take more pride in themselves- what a world we live in, women are hardly paid anything to take off their clothes and parade around practically naked, and to top it all off they call themselves "models"

[hidenout3]

08:47 AM on 02/19/2012

It's a lonely little world you live in, isn't it?

[Salvador Dali]

09:22 AM on 02/19/2012

It's a sexist, ignorant mind you have, isn't it?

[MarnieEdgar]

07:37 PM on 02/19/2012

I agree... it would be nice if women were celebrated for something other than their contributions to men's jack off magazines....

[Salvador Dali]

11:48 PM on 02/19/2012

I think the women who continue to portray themselves this way are to blame as well; they are not making it any easier on feminist who are trying to stop the objectification of women.

[CunningStunts]

02:02 PM on 02/20/2012

But the fact that they aren't, says a lot about them.

[Serina23]

04:08 PM on 02/15/2012

Oh, to bend her like a pretzel...

[Edbeason]

12:04 PM on 02/15/2012

If you think she looks like Marilyn, think again. Try looking at their photos side by side, and you'll see......only one Marilyn dude......

[forrestly7]

08:58 AM on 02/15/2012

She very much resembles Marilyn Monroe...simply beautiful.

[MarnieEdgar]

05:43 PM on 02/19/2012

She doesn't look like Marilyn, however, it's obvious she's trying to look like her... and much too hard. Blond hair and a camera and they all try to be Marilyn Monroe... only to prove how little they compare.

[forrestly7]

07:00 PM on 02/19/2012

Thread's old hat but anyway...no, there is a natural resemblance...and yes, she does idolize Marilyn...what pretty blonde wouldn't? Not "trying to be her" as you say, she's very much her own person if you have seen any of her interviews. Sounds like somebody's a tad bit jealous.

[SukiTheCat]

08:37 AM on 02/15/2012

Kate Upton reminds me of Courtney Stodden...also, Cintia Dicker is that model from the aerie underwear ad, didn't know her name before but always thought she was a quite pretty and natural looking

[Dede Eagleburger]

11:12 AM on 02/15/2012

OMG...nothing against Courtney at all but Kate is so much more than that!!

[tara2012]

12:39 PM on 02/15/2012

The ad for the bra that "adds two cup sizes." That gel padding is really natural! Well it isn't her fault that the company makes her wear bras like this.

[NAOMA]

01:09 PM on 02/15/2012

Her breasts look terribly fake. They look like two pita breads. I don't know what else to say.

[SukiTheCat]

08:41 AM on 02/16/2012

well I was talking more about her face, pretty red head