Megan Thee Stallion becomes the first rapper to land a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover: 'It feels amazing'

• Megan Thee Stallion is one of three cover stars for this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
• She is the first rapper to land the coveted spot, and told People the shoot was "magical."
• "I had been training for months and I was super prepared," she said. "The day was perfect."

Megan Thee Stallion has made Sports Illustrated history as the first rapper to grace the cover of the swimsuit issue.

The 26-year-old hitmaker told People magazine that she was shocked when she got the call, and being the first rapper ever chosen "makes it extra special." The winning image, shot by James Macari, features Megan in a light-brown bikini.

"I had been training for months and I was super prepared. I got into the shoot right away," she said.

"James said he usually doesn't get into the water until the fourth or fifth set-up, but we were both in the ocean from the start," she added, describing the day as "perfect," "magical," and "one of the best experiences in my life."

Megan also praised the magazine's commitment to "diversity and inclusion," citing the 1997 issue that featured Tyra Banks as the first Black cover star.

"I remember thinking, 'Wow, this girl looks like me!' Here is this stunning Black woman owning her curves and it made a big impact," she told People. "It made me think, maybe I can be on the cover of SI Swim one day. And guess what - I am!"

She also praised the 2007 issue that featured Beyoncé, her mentor and "Savage" collaborator, as the first musician on the cover.

Megan is one of three featured women this year, joining tennis champ Naomi Osaka and actress Leyna Bloom, who also makes history as the swimsuit issue's first transgender cover star.

"These are huge moments," Bloom told NBC News. "But it's just like, why has it taken so long?"