Sports Illustrated magazine will make history this month by featuring its first ever plus-size swimwear model in an advertisement.
The famous publication has cast model Ashley Graham, a size 16, as the brand’s ambassador for swimsuitforall.
“I know my curves are sexy and I want everyone else to know that theirs are too,” she said. “There’s no reason to hide and every reason to flaunt.”
The 27-year-old has graced the pages of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Glamour magazines in the past, but now she’s trailblazing a path for plus-sized women to find their place in a catalogue better known for A-list models.
Graham reportedly didn’t take it lightly when actress Jennifer Lawrence was labeled as the “poster child” for women with curves in Hollywood, implying that the star was only slender thanks to an eating disorder.
“She’s tiny,” she told The Edit magazine. “There needs to be more education in schools, because that’s where eating disorders start. It’s not just about being healthy; it’s also about loving who you are.”
A social media campaign is also on the horizon for Graham and the swimwear brand, and will be tagged, “#CurvesinBikinis.”
“Tastes and body types change over time and curves have been more ‘in.’ There is no better way to celebrate and show off than by donning a bikini,” said Moshe Laniado, President and CEO of swimsuitforall.
The magazine is set to hit store shelves on Feb. 9.