A cover model is a male or female whose photograph appears on the front cover of a magazine.
The cover model is generally a fashion model, celebrity, or contest winner.
Generally, cover models are depicted solitarily; however, on occasion magazines will present a front cover with multiple cover models.
Cover models generally take part in a fashion or portrait photography photo shoot for the magazine.
When a magazine depicts a candid or stock image for the main cover image, the talent is referred to as the magazine "cover" rather than "cover model" or "cover girl".