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

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.
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.
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 and Giancarlo Stanton on set
Erin Heatherton and Giancarlo Stanton on set
Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session
Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session
Erin Heatherton wears Giancarlo Stanton's jersey
Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session
Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session
Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session
Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session
Erin's infamous selfie with Giancarlo Stanton
Erin Heatherton's view of Giancarlo Stanton's body-paint session
Body paint crew selfie
Professional bodypainter Joanne Gair and Erin Heatherton on set
Erin Heatherton and Giancarlo Stanton on set

A senior editor atSI.com, Andy Gray oversees Hot Clicks, Extra Mustard and the Swimsuit site. A Boston sports loyalist and Columbia graduate, he joined SI in 2005.