When it comes to the evolution of Kate Upton , we know we're starting to sound like a broken record: Kate has finally ditched her bikinis, is ascending high fashion's ranks , has landed a Vogue spread here, a CR Fashion Book cover there, yadda yadda yadda.

But the latest development on the Kate Upton front is actually worth noting: the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model has finally scored a Vogue cover! It's for Vogue Italia, but still: we wondered aloud whether Upton would ever graduate from a mere photo shoot subject to a true cover girl for the world's most important fashion magazine... and now it seems it's finally happened.

The sumptuous cover for Vogue Italia's November 2012 issue was lensed by Steven Meisel, who also shot Kate's recent Vogue US spread . The spread unabashedly channels Upton's bombshell status, with a sheepskin Fendi coat, a patent leather bustier by Patricia Field, Kenneth Jay Lane jewels, big blonde hair and cleavage galore. In case you were still confused, the cover line reads, "SEDUCTIVE." Subtle it's not.

But hey, a Vogue Italia cover is a Vogue Italia cover! And it may mean Upton is one step closer to the most coveted cover of all: Anna Wintour's Vogue. Do you think Upton's got what it takes?

Head to Vogue.it to read more about the cover shoot.

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