Beyonce on the Cover of Sports Illustrated

Beyonce Knowles may be neither a model nor an athlete, but one thing she is... is on the cover of this year's Sports Illustrated issue.

She is also in a BIG movie and has a BIG album out. So how did the 25-year-old singer-actress end up posing on a Florida beach for the most coveted cover in modeling.

"The Dreamgirl As You've Never Seen Her," intices the S.I. cover byline.

Modeling bikinis designed by House of Dereon, the fashion label she started with her mother, Tina Knowles, Beyonce posed for the magazine last fall. About the photos she says "These are photos I can show my kids some day, so I can say, 'See, momma was beautiful. Look how good I looked!'". Well it is true she does look good. And what a way to launch a fashion bikini line, with a beautiful diva and the only issue of a sports magazine synonymous with the words babes and summer.

Usually the S.I. Swimsuit edition is not read by many women. But I'm sure that this one will be different. It seems everyone loves Beyonce! She is in an Oscar contending film, she is performing at the Oscars this year, she has some of the catchiest songs on the radio right now, and now S.I.'s cover.

The God's must be smiling on her! And she takes it all in stride. In describing her preparation for the shoot she said she was extra strict about her diet. Because the photo shoot was right after Thanksgiving, she said it was especially difficult.

"At dinner, I kept thinking: this extra piece of pie will show up," she said. "I always make sure I celebrate it up, but I was so terrified with every little thing I ate this year."

I have always been impressed by Beyonce's humble spirit. When you watch the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Video, you will see someone who has practically achieved it all, and who still worries about what her friends might think.

In other Beyonce news, some people think she should be more of a role model than a model. The Australia based anti-smoking group, Quit, is smoking mad over ads promoting Beyonce's upcoming concerts. Posters for the concerts feature the "irreplaceable" superstar holding an old-fashioned cigarette. Quit believes this could be viewed as promoting a smoking product --which is illegal in Australia. Although Quit is "disappointed" with Beyonce's choice antique prop, but they are not the first to be upset over recent photos.

Other publicity photos from her latest album, "B-Day," featured Beyonce posing with live alligators. That and her excessive use of fur, caused PETA to ambush the star. What's a superstar to do?

As for me...I think Beyonce is turning out to really be Destiny's Child...she's irreplaceable! You go girl!