Photo courtesy SI.com

Jessica Trainham, a 22-year-old Auburn University student, is featured in the Sports Illustrated 2008 swimsuit edition.

Trainham said being in the magazine, which hit newsstands Tuesday, was the biggest thrill of her life.

“It was really exciting,” she said. “I feel really blessed to have the experience I did. When I got chosen, I was thrilled like any girl would be. Sports Illustrated is huge.”

The opportunity came about by chance.

In addition to being a student at Auburn, Trainham also moonlights as a cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons. Someone from Sports Illustrated saw her picture and chose her and 11 other NFL cheerleaders and put them in the magazine.

She told us they went on the Web site and randomly selected the girls they were looking for, Trainham said.

“It was an honor to know that I had the look they were looking for when they searched for us individually,” she said.

Trainham grew up in Phenix City and went to Central High School. She said her recent fame hasn’t gone to her head. She said she is proud to be from Phenix City, where her family and friends keep her grounded.

“It’s cool seeing people know who I am, but as far as staying grounded, I’ll always be that way. That’s just the type of person I am,” she said. “I’m excited about this opportunity, but I think it’s more important to know where I came from and stay that way.”

Trainham said her experience in New York was fun, but also a little scary.

“We were a little intimidated when you see all those girls that are so beautiful,” she said. “So it was intimidating, but they were really nice.”

Although she doesn’t know how long the fame will last, the experience will last a lifetime.

Trainham said after she graduates from Auburn in May, she wants to intern at a television station in Tampa, Fla.

Her goal is to become a television news reporter.

Source: Opelika-Auburn News

View her entire Sports Illustrated Photo Gallery here