NEWS.com.au | The National Georgraphic 'sealed edition'? (January 31, 2003) National Geographic.
The magazine, long a forum for family-friendly photography, is publishing its first swimsuit issue, on sale and online on Saturday.
The covergirl is Hanna Hobensack, a Sydney fashion design student who posed for the shot in Hawaii wearing three scallop shells.
Timed to roughly coincide with the racy annual look at bathing beauties by Sports Illustrated, the National Geographic issue is meant to offer light-hearted diversion.
"We just wanted to have a little fun, when it's so cold in the winter," said Bill Allen, editor in chief.
"And I think that this country [the US] could use a little lightness and fun right now. We've had a pretty tough 18 months