Melbourne, Feb 11 : Israeli model Bar Refaeli has posed almost half naked for the current cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit magazine.

Refaeli can be seen posing in a string bikini by Missoni and carefully pulling one of the thin straps down her hip, reports the Daily Telegraph.

This is the first time an Israeli model has made the front cover of the magazine, which will be out on February 11, and it is slated to reach a global audience of some 66 million readers, with 350 million being web page viewers.

Models all over have coveted to be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and Refaeli has been featured inside the issue for three years.

The photo shoot for Refaeli had taken place on Canouan Island in the Caribbean, but the issue goes to seven other countries for pictures including Italy, Turkey and Mexico.

The issue features over 83 bikinis modelled by more than 30 professionals and sports stars including tennis players Tatiana Golovin and Maria Kirilenko. (ANI)