200 swimsuits, a lost suitcase, Bad Bunny, and a whale: Salma Hayek's account of her Sports Illustrated cover

While bathed in applause and positive messages, Salma Hayek is telling the chaotic, complicated, but magical story behind her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover. It features 200 pieces, a lost suitcase, and even a whale.

First things first: She looks spectacular! The fact that at her excellently accomplished 58 years, she decided to say yes to posing for this iconic publication speaks for itself. Her figure, although aided by genetics, is today a testament to discipline and perseverance.

However, after accepting, she began to have doubts. This is what she said while presenting the magazine on the Today Show , NBC's morning program in the United States. "I live with imposter syndrome," Salma said, referring to that feeling that one doesn't deserve recognition.

"I thought I'd believe it and told them it wouldn't be possible because I didn't have the right swimsuits," she said. Obviously, a magazine like that wasn't going to settle for that, and they sent her 200 to choose from, along with the option of customizing them. She did so and felt more confident, but then the Universe intervened and taught her a lesson.

A magical photoshoot in Mexico

The swimsuits never arrived and she had to do the photo shoot (because with Salma Hayek's work ethic she would never say it wasn't done) with some spare ones that the magazine team had brought, just in case.

Keeping in mind that they didn't fit perfectly, the feeling of discomfort returned, but when she was experiencing her worst moment of insecurity, she saw a whale in the sea. "No one even captured it on camera, because it was just a moment and they were just setting up the equipment to begin, but I understood that what I was experiencing was magical and that I had to enjoy it," she said.

In fact, she recalled, "I always dreamed of having that opportunity, but when I was young, they never chose women like me." She was referring to celebrities with curvy bodies and brunettes. "Women in my era also thought we'd be out of the woods (Hollywood and magazine covers) after 35," she added.

"I feel very fortunate to be part of a generation that has been able to experience very tangible changes," she said in her interview with SI . "I could retire, but I don't want to miss this moment. I fought for this, you know? I've been a part of it, and I find it really extraordinary that a magazine like Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] says that it's okay—maybe even cool—to be over 50 and still feel not just sexy, but, in my case, free and not ashamed of your body, like you have to hide it."