Ciara wears all green ensemble while leaving her hotel During New York Fashion Week

Ciara Credits 5-Year-Old Daughter For 'SI' Cover Inspiration

Home / Stars / Ciara Credits 5-Year-Old Daughter For 'SI' Cover Inspiration

By Fiyin Olowokandi on May 23, 2022 at 1:30 PM PDT

Ciara has achieved her life-long dream of gracing the covers of the renowned Sports Illustrated Magazine for their swimsuit issue.

The "Level Up" singer accomplished this meaningful feat while being inspired to be a source of motivation to her 5-year-old daughter Sienna Wilson who she raises with her husband, Russell Wilson.

The mother-of-three, who also shares a boy, Win Wilson, 1, and a son, Future, 8, from her relationship with the eponymous rapper, opened up about how Sienna inspires her to believe in herself. 

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Ciara Talks Being Inspired By Sienna On Sports Illustrated Cover

Ciara at the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
MEGA

On Thursday, May 19, Ciara spoke to ET about accomplishing her dream of being on the Sports Illustrated cover after working toward it for almost twenty years.

Being a mother to a 5-year-old daughter makes the opportunity even more significant for the "Dance Like We're Making Love" singer. She spoke about being inspired by Sienna, gushing:

"I always think about my daughter, you know? I always think that when she gets to see me in moments like this, she can see herself and have something to look forward to or believe in and to have hope in."

When questioned about the best word of encouragement she has for her young girl, Ciara replied that it is none other than to "never give up."

The matriarch recalled starting her career as a Hollywood entertainer eighteen years back with her successful 2004 album "Goodies" while nursing the dream of covering a Sports Illustrated magazine.

Ciara explained that accomplishing her dream 18 years later, with the Swimsuit issue out on newsstands on May 19, emphasizes her point on self-belief. She continued saying:

"It's like the moment you want to give up is when you have to take that extra step, push forward and believe even harder because dreams really do come true. Things really do happen when you don't stop believing."

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The stunning wife also touched on having the love and support of Wilson, who also accompanied her to the launch event, adding that she feels blessed that he is always there to cheer her on.

Ciara credited her husband for boosting her self-confidence. She clarified that she is a confident lady, but it feels good to be loved like that by a man who inspires her and is the best.

The "That's My Boy" actress will grace various Swimsuit Illustrated covers with industry giants Maye Musk, Kim Kardashian, and Yumi Nu.

Ciara praised the magazine's editor-in-chief MJ Day for having an incredible vision for the issues. She explained that she "wanted to push boundaries and speak to every woman possible in the world, and I am all for that."

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The model continued that she is excited to be a part of the great time and journey that Swimsuit Illustrated is on, calling it a bit historic.

Ciara admitted to still pinching herself in disbelief of her accomplishment, saying, "the love has been insane. It's just been such an incredible and unforgettable experience. I'm super proud."

Russell Wilson Pens Sports Illustrated Cover Story For His Wife

Wilson made Ciara's Sports Illustrated Magazine debut even more special by penning an emotional and uplifting tribute for her cover story.

Earlier this month, The Blast disclosed the details of the NFL star's message which he began with a walk down memory lane. He wrote:

"When I was a kid, my dad would always say, “Why not you? Why not you?” Years later, I met Ciara and realized that was the exact same question she had asked herself—subconsciously and consciously—when she was growing up."

Wilson touched on how he and the "Mama, I Wanna Sing!" actress discovered their shared goals the day they came across each other. They also vowed to co-write a book and found a school.

The Broncos quarterback and the gorgeous cover model achieved their first goal of opening an educational institution with the launch of the Why Not You Academy.

Wilson recalled visiting with Ciara during the opening of the school and how amazing it was to see how excited the students were to have her there. He added, "She didn’t just speak to them. She spoke life into them."

The proud husband called his wife a ray of light who inspires people because she connects with them and has a powerful energy that tilts every room she enters.

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