Kate Upton Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition: 10 Things to Know about the Cover Girl [PHOTOS]

Kate Upton is officially the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover girl of 2012. The blonde bombshell has been chosen to cover the iconic bikini edition of the athletic mag this year and the photo, which was supposed to be unveiled Monday night on The Late Show with David Letterman, has leaked.

The photo shows Kate Upton in a skimpy red and brown string bikini with her blonde hair blowing in the wind and a small charm necklace around her neck. She poses with one hand on her head and the other on her hip, smiling coyly at the camera.

The Florida-native's ample curves are on full-display on the cover. As the leaked shot went viral, adoring male fans tweeted their glee. I saw the cover of the 2012 SI Swimsuit magazine and I have to tell you, the real winner today is Kate Upton's boyfriend, tweeted the handle Shooter McGavin.

It's always what I talked about, I grew up in an American family so it always was on the coffee table, Kate says of the magazine. So to be that girl on the magazine on the coffee table is really groundbreaking for me.

This year, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition was photographed in the Florida Gulf. Models went to Apalachicola, Fla. to photograph the drool-worthy issue in a spot hard-hit since the BP oil spill. The photo shoot will surely put Florida back in the limelight and show the world that it is still a thriving, and beautiful, tourist locale.

It took us a couple days to master saying it, Diane Smith, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition editor, told USA Today. We thought we can do some good for our country, really help a region that needs to be showcased, said Smith.

It is no surprise the blonde beauty got the cover. She has been on fire lately, making headlines for her fashion career, her love life and her Dougie viral video. Here are 10 things to know about the supermodel and Sports Illustrated cover girl.