The world knows a lot more about Bar Refaeli today than it did yesterday, including where her tiny tan line falls.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit unveiled the 23-year-old Israeli, who has been romantically linked to Leonardo DiCaprio, as a first-time cover girl on Tuesday.

This gig, more than top fashion or entertainment magazines, can be career-altering as it puts a model’s face in front of millions of eyeballs, appealing to both men and women, sports fans and fashionistas.

It’s the cover that matters most, says SI group editor Terry McDonell, but each model — 19 for this issue — gets an equal shot at the cover. Refaeli wears a string bikini by Missoni — and the strings on the bikini bottom are being tugged south.

Refaeli said that she had the feeling that this particular shot of her in the water on Canouan Island in the Grenadines was her chance to be on the front.

“This is the one I felt the most comfortable with,” said Refaeli, who twice before was featured on the inside pages of the magazine. “You have the beach, blue water and a body. That’s it. I liked that the top of the suit was on.”