Is Kate Upton the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model?

There are few publications as hotly anticipated as Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit edition. And with the release comes the curiosity about who will be the cover model.

While the publication had hoped to keep this information under wraps until the grand reveal on Monday's (Feb. 13) "Late Show with David Letterman," some people can't be denied. It appears that Kate Upton will grace the cover 2012 edition if a leaked photo is correct. And she looks hawt!

Upton, the 19-year-old model, sports a barely-there red bikini and wind-swept hair. The beauty made her debut in the 2011 edition of the publication and was voted "Rookie of the Year." She follows in the tradition of such bikini babes as Brooklyn Decker, Bar Refaeli, Elle Macpherson and Christie Brinkley.

So Zappers, is she a worthy heiress to the throne.