5 Sports Illustrated Plus Size Models Who Own the Runway

Uncover Proudly Amplifies Various Voices

Sports activities Illustrated plus measurement fashions deserve all of the highlight!

If you happen to didn’t know, in 2016, runway star Ashley Graham made historical past as the primary voluptuous girl to grace the quilt of Sports activities Illustrated. The show-stopping magnificence was featured in a purple-and-yellow bikini on the entrance of the publication’s celebrated swimsuit problem, which spawned a brand new age within the physique positivity motion.

On the time, Graham spoke to People journal about what the illustration meant not just for her but additionally for fellow full-figured women across the globe. “I believed Sports activities Illustrated was taking a danger by placing a lady my measurement within the pages,” the once-rookie advised the outlet. “However placing me on the quilt? They aren’t simply breaking obstacles; they’re the usual now. That is past epic!”

“Ladies who’re insecure about their our bodies, women who really feel ‘fats,’ women who’ve cellulite, women who’ve stretch marks on their physique — these are all of the issues that I had as a child, and I by no means had a lady like me rising up to take a look at,” she added. “I had my mom, and that’s one factor, however to have any individual who has cellulite, who has issues that jiggle, who has again fats and discuss how one can be an overcomer and never let society take you down for all of that… that’s actual.”

Sports activities Illustrated debuted in 1954 and has since served as a number one pressure in sports activities media. The information empire was based by the late journalist Stuart Scheftel. It turned extensively identified for its annual swimwear part, which started in 1964 and featured quite a few (primarily match) feminine celebrities posing for the unfold. 

“The second that I obtained the quilt and noticed it for the primary time, I knew that my life was going to vary eternally,” Graham gushed in a YouTube video concerning the expertise. “Massive women are right here to remain! what I’m saying?”

Finally, Graham’s groundbreaking accomplishment catapulted her to international stardom, paving the way in which and opening the door for different larger-framed queens to make their mark. And right this moment, we’re sharing the opposite Sports activities Illustrated plus measurement fashions who you need to know and observe!

These Are 5 Sports activities Illustrated Plus Dimension Fashions You’ll Wish to Bear in mind

1. Hunter McGrady

Hunter McGrady is the daughter of actress/inside designer Brynja McGrady and actor Michael McGrady. The 31-year-old Los Angeles native labored with Sports activities Illustrated for the primary time in 2017 after being found by means of one among their well-known casting calls. Since then, McGrady has maintained a six-time tenure with the model, photographed in a number of nations throughout the pages of the famend journal.

In Could 2024, The Mannequin Citizen Podcast host snagged the quilt of Sports activities Illustrated Swimsuit’s sixtieth Anniversary Legends problem, with an extra joint shoot alongside icons like Tyra Banks and Kate Upton, amongst others.

2. Achieng Agutu

Kenya-born influencer Achieng Agutu made her rookie reveal for Sports activities Illustrated‘s sixtieth Anniversary problem in Could 2024, which was shot in Mexico by the honorable photographer Yu Tsai.

Deemed ‘The Confidence Queen,’ the 27-year-old has constructed an enormous on-line presence by means of her unapologetic love for full-figured style and creating motivational content material to encourage her viewers of practically 2 million on Instagram and TikTok (collectively). Moreover, she is among the hosts of Prime Video’s new discuss present, Influenced, the place she and different social media stars give their sizzling tackle real-life matters.

3. Yumi Nu

Yumi Nu sparked main buzz when she turned the primary plus-size Asian girl to grace a Sports activities Illustrated Swimsuit cowl in 2022. Upon the milestone, Nu shared, “That is actually groundbreaking in so some ways, and we’re making historical past.” She added, “I get to be illustration for individuals like me who’re youthful, and which means a lot to me.”

Her preliminary rollout with the journal got here by means of a 2021 shoot in Tampa. All through the New Jersey native’s Sports activities Illustrated partnership, she has grow to be one among their most notable faces. The 27-year-old owns the size-inclusive clothes firm BLUEKI and a singer-songwriter.

4. Veronica Pome’e

Veronica Pome’e was the primary Polynesian mannequin featured in Sports activities Illustrated in 2019. Her swimsuit unveiling got here after profitable a spot because the model’s mannequin search finalist. “There’s a lot extra to it than simply being in a bikini on a seaside taking lovely pictures. I symbolize a lot greater than that and have grow to be the face for excellent hopes and massive desires,” the 34-year-old advised Sports Illustrated of the historic transfer.

Right this moment, Pome’e remains to be lighting up the trade as she makes use of her platform to point out the significance of physique range and ladies’s empowerment. The Tongan-born strutter is now below the imprint Group New York.

5. Lauren Chan

Canadian mannequin Lauren Chan was Sports activities Illustrated’s first-ever queer mannequin in 2023’s swimsuit problem. Per People, the ex-Glamour style editor made headlines after divorcing her husband and popping out to the world. When talking on her journey to self-love, she cited, “I really feel just like the extra I’ve leaned into who I’m, accepted it, beloved it, after which lived it over the previous 10 years has all made me really feel extra like myself and extra assured.” 

Lauren Chan was simply lately part of Sports activities Illustrated’s sixtieth anniversary format, which highlighted Chrissy Teigen, Kate Upton, Hunter McGrady, and Gayle King on the 4 particular person covers. She’s the previous proprietor of the luxurious clothes model Henning.

Who’s your favourite of those Sports activities Illustrated plus measurement fashions? Tell us within the feedback!