AceShowbiz -

Kate Upton graces the front page of Vanity Fair's latest issue with a birthday cake in one hand to help celebrate the magazine's 100th anniversary. The 21-year-old bombshell channels Marilyn Monroe as she rocks a Champagne-colored one-piece with an old Hollywood glamour makeup.

Vanity Fair was initially called Dress & Vanity Fair when it debuted in 1913. An illustration of a woman lounging on the moon was put on the cover back then. With the help from the sexy Sport Illustrated Swimsuit model, photographer Annie Leibovitz recreates the retro cover for the inside centennial issue.

Upton had her fair share of obstacles before getting her big break in the industry, something that Vanity Fair could relate to. The magazine suffered a setback during the Great Depression, prompting it to be put to sleep before later being revived in 1983 by S.I. Newhouse Jr., the chairman of Conde Nast.

"I'm not going to name names, but one agency told me, 'You're too American, and everybody knows American women are lazy.' I was so offended! I've never been so offended! I was like, 'You know that you're in America, right?' And it wasn't 'American models' - it was 'American women are lazy,' period! I feel like a lot of women would disagree with that. A lot!" she recalled

But Upton proves them wrong. She has appeared everywhere from being the cover girl of glossy top magazines like Vogue to posing on the Victoria's Secret catalogue. On top of that, she has just been named 2013's Model of the Year, a title she is expected to receive at the Style Awards in New York.

The latest Vanity Fair issue will be on newsstands September 5.