Shayk on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover

LOS ANGELES The photo shows the 25-year-old Russian model in a small pink and yellow Elizabeth Southwood bikini on the beaches of Hawaii. She says that particular bathing suit was one of her favorites. She liked the push-up bra style of the suit, in a design of pink diamonds on the front of the top with yellow around the neck and sides.

Shayk only learned she'd won the coveted spot Monday when the cover was revealed on "Late Night With David Letterman."

"There were 10 models there to do the Top 10 List, and nobody knows until the last minute who the cover will be," Shayk said. "And then I saw it, and I couldn't believe it."

In keeping with tradition, the cover of the special issue is kept secret until the magazine is ready to hit newsstands.

Shayk, the girlfriend of soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, has been in the issue five times before, but this is her first cover.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.