Sports Illustrated does it again! Every year the S.I. Swimsuit Edition is one of the most highly coveted publications to hit stands. Sports Illustrated has been breaking barriers for years in race and now body image. I feel very strongly about the issue, and what it represents. To some it may be a racy view of women, mostly models, who are scantily clad sporting seductive expressions, but to many others it is a celebration of women of all shapes, sizes and colors.
In 2009 I was fortunate enough to be one of ten NBA dancers featured in the issue. It was my first real experience with modeling, and internet scrutiny. I was called everything from a “juicy porkshop” to a “butter face”, and everything in between. Thankfully I have pretty thick skin, but to say those words didn’t hurt would be a lie. An out and out lie. I cannot even imagine the media scrutiny that celebs have to deal with on a regular basis. Ugh! Internet trolls…cyber bullying needs to stop! Anyway, before we move on…check out the reaction from our 2016 cover models! Three beautiful women, three completely different types of beauty.
I wrote about the Swimsuit Edition last year when Robin Lawly graced the glossy pages of S.I. The first plus-size bombshell to be featured in the magazine, and this year S.I. went one step further releasing three different covers, with three different beauties and bodies on them. Beauty is not a one size fits all idea, and by featuring MMA fighter Ronda Rousey, body-positive activist and model Ashley Graham and fashion model Hailey Clauson on three covers makes for the most health conscious and body-positive swimsuit issue ever!
I am so honored to be a S.I. Swim alum…it is truly a celebration of all body types! We need to realize that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. My body-type is athletic. It always has and always will be. Sometimes I get insecure standing next to models that are 5’10” , super skinny and effortless gorgeous, but I have learned to find beauty in my athletic thighs and crooked feet. They have allowed me to dance to my hearts content, and run, jump and prance my way through campaigns, classes, and tomorrow I will be so excited to share a project I have been working on this past year!
Once again Sports Illustrated…thank you for showing us that there are no barriers in beauty! Women are strong, beautiful creatures that shouldn’t come with a label. There are women out there everywhere who may truly believe that they are even more beautiful because they can totally relate to your 2016 cover girls!
