Last weekend, Sports Illustrated revealed the 2016 Swimsuit Edition cover, and—surprise! There are three leading ladies this year: MAA fighter Rhonda Rousey, Hailey Clauson and plus-size model Ashley Graham. They all have their own covers.
(From left to right: Rhonda Rousey, Haily Clauson, Ashley Graham.)
In an interview on The Gray Area, Assistant Managing Editor MJ Day explained why Sports Illustrated chose them as the magazine’s cover ladies. This is the first time Sports Illustrated has put either an athlete or a plus-size model on the Swimsuit Edition cover—let alone at the same time!
Day emphasized, “All three women are beautiful, sexy and strong. Beauty is not cookie-cutter. Beauty is not ‘one-size-fits-all’.”
You got that right, Day.
Other models you’ll find in this year’s edition includes Gigi Hadid, Chrissy Teigan, Chanel Iman and Robyn Lawley. Teigan even previewed her shots on IG.
Sports Illustrated seems to be diversifying their model portfolio to promote body positivity. And for that reason, Day said that picking a single cover lady was especially difficult this year. She believes that the magazine can be a catalyst for healthy conversations about bodies, health and beauty. So really, who can blame them for choosing three cover ladies at once?
“Okay, they’re sexy; that’s undeniable. But they’re also really interesting and captivating people, and there are stories underneath that beauty. We’re celebrating these women inside and out,“ Day said.