The “Frida” star’s latest swimsuit cover is stirring reactions online, not just for the glamour, but for what’s missing.

At 58, Salma Hayek appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated (SI) Swimsuit 2025, drawing wide attention online. Some praised her confident look, while others questioned specific details, sparking active debate across social media.

Photographed by Ruven Afanador at the Cuixmala luxury resort in Mexico, the “House of Gucci” star knelt in a tiled pool, wearing a shimmering green bikini by Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz, accented with gold body chains and a bold turquoise pendant by Los Angeles-based designer Jacquie Aiche.

Her wet hair was slicked back, and she gazed directly into the camera with calm, unwavering confidence.

The striking image quickly drew attention online, where reactions were mixed. One commenter asked, “Where are the wrinkles in the face??? Or is it mostly makeu [sic], filter, and lighting?”

Another remarked, “She looks stunning, but I am puzzled about the different shapes of her belly button.” Someone expressed skepticism about her appearance, pointing specifically to the possibility of implants.

A fourth referenced Hayek’s previous comments about her body, “She once spoke in an interview about ‘disfiguring stretch marks’. Would have been beautiful to have seen at least one. You know, for the girls fighting beauty standards every day.”

Others applauded her appearance, including one who said, “She is still stunning. Glad she hasn’t destroyed her face with insanely horrible plastic surgery.”

Some praised the Oscar nominee’s appearance as stunning, describing her as a “total goddess” and “the sexiest woman alive.” Others highlighted her beauty as natural and congratulated her for embracing her looks with confidence.

A few defended her against age-related criticism, suggesting that any backlash likely stemmed from jealousy rather than genuine concern. One commenter supported the choice as age-appropriate, noting it aligns with the current audience for Sports Illustrated.

The shoot marked Hayek’s first appearance in the magazine. As a young woman, she looked forward to the annual swimsuit issue but never saw herself reflected in its pages “If somebody had told me I was gonna be in it at 58, I would have sent them to the madhouse, but the world has changed, and that’s exciting,” she said.

The “Without Blood” actress she never imagined being on the cover, especially since she didn’t see herself reflected in the magazine growing up. “Because (the women) didn’t look like me,” she said. “My body isn’t necessarily the model type.”

She also sees the SI cover as more than a personal milestone — it reflects a broader cultural shift in how aging women are viewed. She said she feels fortunate to be part of a generation that has witnessed real progress. “I could retire, but I don’t want to miss out on this time. I fought for it, you know, and I’ve been part of it,” she explained.

She called it “remarkable” that SI would feature a woman over 50 without asking her to conform to outdated beauty standards.

In another interview, Hayek opened up about her approach to aging. She shared that she never followed beauty trends, relying instead on radio-frequency and energy-based treatments throughout her 30s, 40s, and 50s.

However, after reaching what she described as a “plateau,” she began noticing more sagging in her neck and considered surgery — something she was reluctant to pursue. “I told myself, It’s time,” she said, recalling the moment she decided to seek out other options.

While looking for alternatives to surgery, she discovered a noninvasive treatment that uses ultrasound to boost collagen. After learning more about it, she decided to give it a try and eventually became its ambassador. She said it felt safe and was encouraged when her doctor told her she had plenty of collagen for her age.

Despite trying noninvasive procedures, Hayek remains committed to embracing natural aging. “I’m an actress, a mother, and a wife; I want my expressions to be authentic. I want my kids to look at my face and it’s very clear when I’m proud of them and clear when I’m not happy,” she explained.

She chooses not to color her hair, noting that dyeing affects its texture and makes it harder to manage. “It starts getting frizzy in a strange way,” she said. “It’s not healthy and doesn’t look good.”

For Hayek, embracing imperfections is part of being fully herself, whether it’s showing signs of aging or confidently wearing a bikini. “Well, that’s not all of me, but at least it’s more sides of me,” she added.

Hayek also reflected on how aging has allowed her to move past the limits others placed on her early in her career. She said she once felt pressure to downplay her intelligence to meet the industry’s narrow expectations. “I stopped dumbing myself down because the industry thought I was just sexy,” she said.

With her youngest child soon leaving for college, Hayek said she’s ready to focus on her next chapter — something she and her husband, French businessman François-Henri Pinault, have long planned. She described it as a time to “really explore [her] potential to the max.”

That mindset extends to her social media presence. In a 2020 Instagram post, she shared a makeup-free selfie showing strands of gray hair, which she described as “The white hair of wisdom” in Spanish and French. The post underscored her long-standing commitment to authenticity, self-acceptance, and aging with openness.

That commitment to authenticity resurfaced in Paris, where Hayek’s appearance and her decision to embrace a natural look once again drew public attention.

She attended an art exhibition at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, France, and shared several photos from the event on social media on March 5. However, these images not only highlighted the significance of the show but also drew attention to her hair.

Hayek captioned this series of photos with her thoughts on the exhibition, titled “Corps et Ames (Bodies and Souls).” She wrote, “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 describe the collection, which includes works by artists such as Auguste Rodin, Ana Mendieta, David Hammons, and Marlene Dumas. She noted that many of the featured artists are rarely seen in Paris.

While the event itself was a celebration of art, fans focused on Hayek’s latest look, particularly her classic-inspired hairstyle and graying hair.

Some netizens expressed surprise. One person commented, “Salma, I’m just another fan, and I say this with love—you always look spectacular, and your face is absolutely beautiful, but unfortunately, that hairstyle doesn’t flatter your facial structure.”

Another noted, “There’s more white coming into your hair @salmahayek soon it will be completely all white soon [sic].” One netizen was more direct, writing, “Salma, please do something with your hair. This does not look good on you.”

However, others were quick to praise her choice to embrace the natural aging process with confidence. A supportive fan wrote, “Salma…, [sic] you look stunning with your crown of hair!!!! You’re a queen!!!!” Another admired her, writing, “Aging with grace🧞✨️.” Another person wrote, “Wow aging beautifully Salma 👌🏿❤️.”

However, this isn’t the first time that Hayek’s graying hair became a topic of conversation. As reported previously, the “Desperado” actress turned heads with a social media post from August 26, 2024.

Hayek effortlessly showcased her timeless beauty and unwavering confidence, posing in a well-fitted yellow two-piece swimsuit and sunglasses. She captioned the post, “Yellow bikini + White hair = perfect combination #ibiza.”

The “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” star showed off her graying hair while looking out at the magnificent views. Her toes were painted a striking shade of red, adding a playful pop of color to her look. With a serene look on her face and her curves showing, she exuded a graceful elegance and summer bliss.

Salma Hayek stirred up quite the conversation after posting the two pictures. One fan admired her gray hair, commenting, “Grey hair is your crown 👑 of wisdom from God. Your crown of glory your majesty! You’re a beautiful queen[sic].”

However, some fans expressed concern, with one asking, “Hey what’s wrong, you look so thin? Still lovely, but I’m just saying. 😍”

Another fan seemed to notice a trend in her posts, remarking, “I always loved her confidence, but it seems like every photo she posts is a bikini picture. Maybe that’s just coincidence… But it would be nice to see other things she’s proud of.”

Hayek has been flaunting her gray hair on social media posts as she embraces aging. On June 6, 2023, she posted a makeup-free selfie on Instagram, zooming in on her features. She wrote, “Me waking up and counting how many white hairs and wrinkles have crashed the party this morning.”

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.