I was tryig to say she looked older. I think she looks much older than 56. I know I looked better than that at 56. So I’m feeling pretty darn good.
There are many women actresses that still look incredible that are much older than 56.
@greenwitch ALL cover photographs are heavily photoshopped. Plus size or not. (my brother is the photo editor for a major fashion magazine)
Love Momofthreeboys’ comment; “sack of bones.” LOL.
Where is Peter Paul Rubens when you need him? And let’s not forget that by today’s standards, Marilyn Monroe might be characterized as pudgy. Argh!!!
“Happy to see a normal size woman in the issue.”
Assuming that “normal” is your everyday average, “plus” is not average. My guess a truly average model is not gonna happen. Not attention worthy or extreme enough.
Note I do not use sizes in my description - for a good reason. Here are some eye-opening charts:
Yes, I have been somewhat fortunate to remain approximately the same size my entire adult life - my clothing size has dropped one size and in some brands two sizes since my twenties. It’s rather funny to think about.
I look forward to the day when women of all sizes are disinterested in other womens’ sizes, and there is less attention in general on womens’ appearances. It’s not a competition,and we need to support each other at every size and age… but I do get that some women are worthy of admiration for their looks, just like we admire anything else aesthetically pleasing. But… You be you, girls, you be you 
I like it. Yes, she has probably been photoshopped but what makes her appealing is her waist to hip ratio is pretty good…ie she isn’t a size 16 “apple.”
There are actually 3 SI covers this year–one with Ashley Graham, one with mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey, and one with a more traditional SI model named Hailey Clauson (minimal swimwear included):
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/14/entertainment/sports-illustrated-cover-models/
Graham claims her cover shot is not retouched (according to People magazine).
SI has used multiple models for the cover before but I don;t think they’ve ever done 3 separate covers.
Maybe the “retouching” was done before the photo was taken.
I think the older model mostly looks old to us because of the gray hair. I think she’s quite beautiful in some of the other photos of her, but not the one in the swimsuit issue. Those Hollywood actress (almost) all have dyed hair and face lifts and whatnot. The SI model looks more natural - though I don’t know that she is.
I agree with mathmom. The 56-year-old model looks old to us because she has gray hair. But most women will have gray hair at 56, unless they dye. I find it funny to get together with other couples in their fifties. They guys all have gray hair, and the women mostly don’t have gray hair.
H got a subscription to SI and ESPN magazines to use up some expiring FF miles. We just got our copy of the SI swimsuit issue. Rhonda Rousey is on the cover!
Flipping through quickly - there seems to be 100 photos of various kinds and mostly unappealing to me, lol. My favorite are the “athletes in body paint” but it is a very small section with only three women and they don’t show the photo of Lindsay Vonn doing pull ups which I saw in some promotion somewhere. IMO the body paint is more modest than the actual suits.
The plus size model looks beautiful and zaftig.
It is not just her grey hair; her skin looks much older, too. Her features look more aged than 56. At least to me. The grey hair doesn’t help but it is not only that. Not too pile on too much; she’s a stunning woman, and would look amazing for a 69-year old.
I think the 56 year old looks good-she looks real to me. The curvy cover model girl-wow is that a good cover; I can appreciate the composition and it is very sexy (which is what it’s supposed to be). As a tall slim woman, I like that there’s more diversity in body type appreciation.
I always feel bad when women say to me “I wish I looked like you”. I just want to say back that I didn’t do it, my parents made me this way, and it’s not any better than any other way humans are made. I like that healthy representations of all types are being appreciated. I think my favorite SI was the ones with the naked athletes-there is beauty in all types of shapes.
Females dominate CC and reading the posts in this thread just confirms this.
Female Posters are talking about the SI swimsuit issue. Where are the guys?
I am going to put a toe on the scale and state that I like the athletes featured in the issue. They look great. If they lost the paint, that would be fine with me. 
Shame on you @dstark . I only read the swimsuit issue for the articles 
Seriously, there were some great articles. I still remember reading George Plimpton’s “The Curious Case of Sidd Finch”. Sadly, in the ESPN era the magazine lost its way a bit, and I let my subscription lapse.
I think the 56 year old looks beautiful. I don’t die my hair either and her skin looks like many post-menopause women’s skin and the winner is that she’s in great shape. It’s rare to see medically untreated 55-60 year old women in magazines, 40 yes, but 55-60 not so much. Maybe people now think that women should look the same from 40 to 60.
Wisely keeping silent 
“Maybe the “retouching” was done before the photo was taken.”
Very few of us have zero birthmarks on our bodies. That would be the first clue as to whether any retouching, pre or post, took place or not.