Sports Illustrated is one of my favorite magazines in the world. More and more sports magazines are continually highlight super strong body types (that are not considered “athletic”) let us not forget the ESPN Mag Body Issue including the incredible feature in Amanda Bingson that I fell in love with last summer.
This time Sports Illustrated took it a step further. One of the most coveted issues of the year is the swimsuit issue. (side note: as a teenager I had a subscription to SI and honestly this was my least favorite issue–but I get it, the demographic is largely male so I had to deal)
The swimsuit issue is usually graced by a very stunning, size zero model in a very uh, revealing swimsuit with sand and water everywhere creating a super sexy look.
This year’s swimsuit issue is drastically different when it comes to body figure but is not at all different when it comes to the sexy factor. It features body positive model Ashley Graham in all of her size 16 glory front and center of the iconic magazine. Graham, who has been modeling for years with top agencies such a Ford even created own lingerie line for curvy women. Last year she made headlines for simply being in an ad in the magazine. Sports Illustrated must have saw the potential because they brought her back to take the cover.
Graham gracing the cover of the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated is a big deal. For me personally who never even considered that a woman who wasn’t rail thin could grace the cover of such a prestigious magazine. This is another step in the right direction to make all bodies be recognized as normal and beautiful! Thank you Sports Illustrated for not only being a fantastic, thought provoking magazine that continues to break barriers for women of all sizes.
[Tweet “Model @TheAshleyGraham Stuns on the cover of @SInow’s Swimsuit Issue”]
Did you see the cover of the Swimsuit Issue? What did you think?