As you can see in the video above, Danielle Herrington is the newest cover model for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. The 24-year-old is only the third black woman in history to grace the cover, along with icons Tyra Banks (1997) and Beyoncé (2007). Danielle made the announcement on her Instagram account and shared the excitement with her 63,000 followers.

“THANK YOU [Sports Illustrated] for having me on your COVER,” she wrote in the caption of a post featuring her stunning photo. “This is my first cover ever and I am beyond speechless! I dedicate this to all the young girls out there. Work hard, surround yourself with good people who believe in you and your DREAMS WILL COME TRUE!”

The SI swimsuit editor MJ Day opened up about the publication’s decision to go with the beauty. “Last year, Danielle was a rookie, and yet already an exemplary model,” she said. "She's an extra hard worker and a natural brand ambassador. All those things separately don't guarantee a cover, though. Danielle was a shy girl, who went from taking her first photos last year to showing up this year a completely different person. All the good things about her seemed to be magnified.”

Of course, Danielle has gorgeous physical features, but MJ said it was her confidence that sealed the deal. “She owned every single second of her shoot,” the editor continued. "She had an enthusiasm and effervescence about her — I felt like I was meeting her for the first time. Last year she showed up never expecting to be there; this year she showed up completely claiming her place and status as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model." Congrats, Danielle!