Stephanie Gilmore: smile, someone took off your clothes

Stephanie Gilmore has posed in a sexy nude photo session for ESPN The Magazine's "2011 Bodies We Want" dossier.

The famous "The Body Issue" presents a collection of the most perfect sports bodies of the year.

Steph Gilmore was photographed by Francesco Carrozzini, and the final result is beautiful and, at the same time, funny.

"It's daunting for female surfers to match the image of being a tan, fit beach girl in a bikini, so posing naked for these photos was liberating and helped me stop stressing about my insecurities", explains Stephanie Gilmore.

The Australian surfing champion is one of the 22 athletes featured in this creative photo project.

She is the only surfer in this year's "The Body Issue" by ESPN The Magazine.

Alicia Sacramone, Apolo Ohno, Belen Mozo, Blake Griffin, Gretchen Bleiler, Helio Castroneves, Hope Solo, Jeremy Campbell, Jon Jones, Jose Reyes, Julie Chu, Louie Vito, Kelly Kulick, Natasha Hastings, Ryan Hall, Ryan Kesler, Sergio Martinez, Steven Jackson, Suzy Hotrod, Sylvia Fowles and Vera Zvonareva are the other athletes taking off their clothes.

Top Stories

The Qiantang River in China is home to the world's largest tidal bore. It is also the spiritual crib of the country's first wave riders.

John John Florence and Caitlin Simmers have taken out the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) titles at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California.

Jardim do Mar was once hailed as the world's best big-wave point break.

I am in love with water in all its forms. Entering the water is a form of prayer for me.