"They signed me on the spot" - Justin Verlander's wife Kate Upton opens up about the surreal beginnings of her 16-year modeling career

Justin Verlander's wife Kate Upton started her modeling career even before completing her high school and has since went on to shine on the covers of top magazines, including Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue where she graced the cover four times.

During an interview with ABC's Ashan Singh, Upton spoke about the beginning of her modeling career. The supermodel stitched her incredible journey from how she was first signed to how she has been able to grow over the years.

"Well, I got into modeling 16 years ago, and I actually walked in, in an open casting call, and they signed me on the spot in Miami, and they booked me a job," Upton said. "They wanted me to leave the next day to go to Peru, and I couldn't go because I didn't have a passport. I had never been out of the country at that point."

In 2008, Kate Upton attended an Elite Model Management casting interview in Miami and was signed on the same day. However, she moved to New York City, and signed with IMG Models for better opportunities.

"And now I look at my career, and I've shot on all seven continents. I've been all over the world, and it's just, you know, a huge accomplishment for me to be able to travel and see all these cultures and experience all these different working environments," she added.

Kate Upton has been married to Houston Astros star Justin Verlander since 2017. The couple welcomed their daughter Genevieve Upton Verlander on Nov. 7, 2018.

Kate Upton feels honored after receiving a call from Sports Illustrated for their 60th anniversary issue

Only a handful of models have been part of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit's 50th and 60th anniversary issue. Kate Upton is one of those. During the same interaction with Singh, Upton talked about when she first received a call from the legendary magazine for the 2024 issue:

"I got the call right before, like, right before Thanksgiving. I was so honored. I mean, I hadn't shot Sports Illustrated in a few years, and to get that call, to be on the 60th anniversary or be a part of it in any capacity, I was. I was really honored. I was a part of the 50th, and then to be, ten years later, a part of the 60th."

After being named named Rookie of the Year in SI's 2011 issue to making consecutive appearances till 2017, she also made the cover four times in 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2024. She only trails Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson who holds the record for most covers with five.