Salma Hayek suffered 'imposter syndrome' before Sports Illustrated shoot

Bang Showbiz on May 13, 2025

Published in Women

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Salma Hayek had a "very bad case of imposter syndrome" before posing for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

The 58-year-old actress is the cover star of this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition - but Salma has admitted to suffering lots of self-doubts before her photoshoot.

The Hollywood star said on the 'Today' show: "I said yes and then when it was time to do it, I tried to back out. I said, 'No,' because the bathing suits never fit me, how am I gonna do this? There's nothing my size -- I always suffer.'"

Salma confessed to feeling out of her comfort zone prior to the shoot.

The actress is still in a state of shock even now, suggesting that she doesn't have a model-like body.

The brunette beauty - who launched her own line of cosmetics, skincare, and haircare products, called Nuance, back in 2011 - said: "I still can't believe it.

"I remember when I was young and hot, I used to look at this magazine. I wanted to see who was the new gorgeous model, the new girl of the moment. And it never crossed my mind that I could be on that cover because they didn't look like me.

"My body's not necessarily the model type and I never thought that was a possibility. And for it to happen when I'm 58? It's really shocking."

Sports Illustrated actually sent 200 swimsuits to Salma in a bid to calm her nerves before the photoshoot.

The actress shared: "I tried more than 100. A lot of them needed to be altered."

Meanwhile, Salma previously revealed the secret to her youthful-looking skin.

The movie star explained that she doesn't need Botox or fillers to create her flawless appearance.

Selma - who is married to businessman Francois-Henri Pinault - told ELLE: "I use an ingredient called tepezcohuite that's used in Mexico for burn victims because it completely regenerates the skin.

"Some of the ingredients, when I took them to the American labs, they were like, 'Oh my God! How come nobody is using this?' This is why I have no Botox, no peels, no fillers."