This year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue was just released. Models Ashley Graham and Hailey Clauson along with UFC fighter Ronda Rousey each have their own cover. When you think of Sports Illustrated you probably think of Tyra Banks, Chrissy Teigen, or Beyoncé on the cover; while these women are undeniably beautiful, they don’t look like most of us.
For the first time ever, a size 16 woman is on the cover of the mag as well as a woman who is UFC fighting (and winning) shape. Graham, who’s cover was not retouched, told People, “…to have somebody who has cellulite, who has things that jiggle, who has back fat and talk about how you can be an overcomer and not let society take you down for all of that. That’s real.”
One of the other cover stars, Ronda Rousey, has become increasingly popular, talking about positivity and gracing the cover of other magazines, like Self. For her cover of SI, Rousey wears only body paint, showing confidence in how naturally beautiful her body is.
In other body image news, Lane Bryant’s #ThisBody campaign is encouraging women to share what their body “was made for” through T-shirts and social media posts. Ashley Graham, along with models Precious Lee, Tara Lynn, Georgia Pratt and Denise Bidot are the faces of the campaign. Lane Bryant has been changing the conversation around body image for a while, with hashtags like #ImNoAngel and #PlusIsEqual.
Many models, including Graham, have talked about dropping the plus in plus size model, because no one says skinny or thin model. It’s hard to look around right now and not see Ashley Graham, as she is taking the world by storm right now, as the ‘It Girl’ in body positivity. Can she soon be given the title of Super Model? I think so.
David’s Bridal has also taken steps to showcase more realistic body types in both their Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 campaigns. Model Candice Huffine is the face of their fall line and Mercy Watson is the face of the brand’s new spring line and UK launch. Both models and the campaign offers real life brides a chance to see women that actually look like them wearing the dress they want.
All the buzz and positivity surrounding these triumphs for plus size models doesn’t mean that we should hate all other models now. How can you not be slightly obsessed with the Hadid sisters or Karlie Kloss? You’re only human. But recently, the French government banned the use of models that were “excessively thin.” Whether this is good or bad is questionable; if models are trying to be super thin and it’s taking a toll on their bodies, then it’s probablyn not for the best. But we can’t forget that some women are naturally very thin. If we truly want to be body positive we should support women with healthy bodies, no matter their size. Hopefully, soon a model with a body like Ashley Graham’s or Ronda Rousey’s won’t be as big of deal as she graces the cover of Vogue (@AnnaWintour?); she’ll just be another model, not a plus size one.
Also Check out: This Year’s ‘Sports Illustrated’ Swimsuit Cover is Not Retouched and 7 Reasons Why Ronda Rousey is the Ultimate Body Positive Role Model