Throwback Thursday: Giancarlo Stanton poses for the Sports Illustrated cover ... in body paint

Giancarlo Stanton may be baseball's best slugger. He's also the only athlete to don body paint for the SI cover.

Giancarlo Stanton is on a roll. He's already tied the record for most home runs in August (18) and seems a lock to reach the vaunted 60-plus home runs mark. The Marlins outfielder, who is in the middle of a 13-year, $325 million deal, has established himself as one of baseball's top stars, both on and off the field. But all that pales in comparison to that week in March, 2015 when Stanton became the first non-swimsuit model to appear on the SI cover in body paint. 

Photo by Walter Iooss; Body paint by Joanne Gair

Body paint is not easy. Stanton had to sit perfectly still for about eight hours while a group of makeup artists did their magic. But don't feel too bad - we brought in SI Swimsuit model Erin Heatherton to assist with the shoot. Below are some outtakes.

Walter Iooss

We foresee a lot more Stanton covers over the next decade. Not sure he'll be in body paint again, though.

BONUS: See more outtakes from Giancarlo Stanton's body paint shoot

BTS with Erin Heatherton on the set of Giancarlo Stanton's Bodypainting

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton and Giancarlo Stanton on set

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Erin Heatherton and Giancarlo Stanton on set

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session

SI

Erin Heatherton wears Giancarlo Stanton's jersey

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session

Erin Heatherton

Erin's infamous selfie with Giancarlo Stanton

Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session

Erin Heatherton

Body paint crew selfie

Erin Heatherton

Professional bodypainter Joanne Gair and Erin Heatherton on set

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Erin Heatherton and Giancarlo Stanton on set