It's that time again, when magazines fly off the shelves and male sports fans go ballistic.

Yep, the release of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is just around the corner.

Last year, we saw Irina Shayk earn cover honors, to the delight of Cristiano Ronaldo fans everywhere (just kidding).

Who will earn cover honors in 2012?

I'll give you a hint: Cristiano Ronaldo isn't eligible.

Here are my top three picks for the most deserving supermodels of 2012.

3. Jessica Perez

Not only is Jessica Perez from beautiful Costa Rica, she won Sports Illustrated's 2011 model search, beating out eight up-and-coming superstars for the crown.

Perez has also appeared in French Cosmopolitan, American Cosmopolitan, U.K. Cosmopolitan, Allure, Glamour, WWD, SELF, Nylon, Elle, Marie Claire, L'Officiel, Grazia and Jalouse, per her official homepage.

I don't know what half of these magazines are, nor did I know there were so many Cosmopolitans, but, hey, it sounds like she's mighty popular worldwide.

The 25-year-old also supports charities Heartland Alliance and Dog Habitat Rescue.

Photo credit: Magxone.com

2. Esti Ginzburg

Esti Ginzburg, a 21-year-old Israeli model, has appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue ever since her rookie year in 2009.

She's gone from appearing in a milk advertisement at age 14 to being a model for such brands as Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, FCUK, Pull and Bear and Castro.

Not only that, Ginzburg appeared in her first movie in 2010, Joel Schumacher's Twelve (multi-talented).

You add in the fact that was drafted into the army in early 2009 and it's safe to say she's deserving of the cover.

Photo credit: Celebs101.com

1. Genevieve Morton

Not only has South African model Genevieve Morton appeared in the 2010 and 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues, she began garnering serious buzz last year when she was featured in Esquire.

According to Esquire, Morton's roommates called her "Little Miss Sunshine" because she was such a cheery person and she's actually from the same town as Charlize Theron.

After she appeared in FHM, viewers actually crashed the magazine's website.

You add in the fact that she's a little older at 26 years old (her time has come) and is just starting to blow up, and it offers Sports Illustrated the opportunity to stun the world.

Photo credit: Magxone.com