Sports Illustrated plus size models deserve all the spotlight!
If you didn’t know, in 2016, runway star Ashley Graham made history as the first voluptuous woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. The show-stopping beauty was featured in a purple-and-yellow bikini on the front of the publication’s celebrated swimsuit issue, which spawned a new age in the body positivity movement.
At the time, Graham spoke to People magazine about what the representation meant not only for her but also for fellow full-figured ladies around the globe. “I thought Sports Illustrated was taking a risk by putting a girl my size in the pages,” the once-rookie told the outlet. “But putting me on the cover? They aren’t just breaking barriers; they are the standard now. This is beyond epic!”
“Girls who are insecure about their bodies, girls who feel ‘fat,’ girls who have cellulite, girls who have stretch marks on their body — those are all the things that I had as a kid, and I never had a woman like me growing up to look at,” she added. “I had my mother, and that’s one thing, but 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.”
Sports Illustrated debuted in 1954 and has since served as a leading force in sports media. The news empire was founded by the late journalist Stuart Scheftel. It became widely known for its annual swimwear section, which began in 1964 and featured numerous (mainly fit) female celebrities posing for the spread.
“The moment that I got the cover and saw it for the first time, I knew that my life was going to change forever,” Graham gushed in a YouTube video about the experience. “Big girls are here to stay! You know what I’m saying?”
Ultimately, Graham’s groundbreaking accomplishment catapulted her to global stardom, paving the way and opening the door for other larger-framed queens to make their mark. And today, we are sharing the other Sports Illustrated plus size models who you should know and follow!
These Are 5 Sports Illustrated Plus Size Models You’ll Want to Remember
1. Hunter McGrady
Hunter McGrady is the daughter of actress/interior designer Brynja McGrady and actor Michael McGrady. The 31-year-old Los Angeles native worked with Sports Illustrated for the first time in 2017 after being discovered through one of their famous casting calls. Since then, McGrady has maintained a six-time tenure with the brand, photographed in multiple countries within the pages of the renowned magazine.
In May 2024, The Model Citizen Podcast host snagged the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s 60th Anniversary Legends issue, with an additional joint shoot alongside icons like Tyra Banks and Kate Upton, among others.
2. Achieng Agutu
Kenya-born influencer Achieng Agutu made her rookie reveal for Sports Illustrated‘s 60th Anniversary issue in May 2024, which was shot in Mexico by the honorable photographer Yu Tsai.
Deemed ‘The Confidence Queen,’ the 27-year-old has built a massive online presence through her unapologetic love for full-figured fashion and creating motivational content to inspire her audience of nearly 2 million on Instagram and TikTok (collectively). Additionally, she is one of the hosts of Prime Video’s new talk show, Influenced, where she and other social media stars give their hot take on real-life topics.
3. Yumi Nu
Yumi Nu sparked major buzz when she became the first plus-size Asian woman to grace a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover in 2022. Upon the milestone, Nu shared, “This is truly groundbreaking in so many ways, and we’re making history.” She added, “I get to be representation for people like me who are younger, and that means so much to me.”
Her initial rollout with the magazine came through a 2021 shoot in Tampa. Throughout the New Jersey native’s Sports Illustrated partnership, she has become one of their most notable faces. The 27-year-old owns the size-inclusive clothing company BLUEKI and a singer-songwriter.
4. Veronica Pome’e
Veronica Pome’e was the first Polynesian model featured in Sports Illustrated in 2019. Her swimsuit unveiling came after winning a spot as the brand’s model search finalist. “There’s so much more to it than just being in a bikini on a beach taking beautiful photos. I represent so much more than that and have become the face for great hopes and big dreams,” the 34-year-old told Sports Illustrated of the historic move.
Today, Pome’e is still lighting up the industry as she uses her platform to show the importance of body diversity and women’s empowerment. The Tongan-born strutter is now under the imprint Community New York.
5. Lauren Chan
Canadian model Lauren Chan was Sports Illustrated’s first-ever queer model in 2023’s swimsuit issue. Per People, the ex-Glamour fashion editor made headlines after divorcing her husband and coming out to the world. When speaking on her journey to self-love, she cited, “I feel like the more I have leaned into who I am, accepted it, loved it, and then lived it over the past 10 years has all made me feel more like myself and more confident.”
Lauren Chan was just recently a part of Sports Illustrated’s 60th anniversary layout, which highlighted Chrissy Teigen, Kate Upton, Hunter McGrady, and Gayle King on the four individual covers. She’s the former owner of the luxury clothing brand Henning.
Who is your favorite of these Sports Illustrated plus size models? Let us know in the comments!
The author’s content and opinions have not been pre-reviewed, approved or endorsed by Discover.
