'Curviest model ever' shuts down body-shamers who say there's 'no way' she's healthy

Hunter McGrady may be the “curviest model ever.” But she wants her body-shamers to know that that doesn’t mean she’s unhealthy.

After appearing in Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue for the third year in a row, McGrady is reflecting on what it means to be the curviest woman to appear in the magazine — and challenging the misconceptions that come with it.

“I hold the title of being the curviest model in the issue so proudly,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle while on the BUILD series stage. “People always tell me there’s no way you’re healthy, there’s no way you’re healthy. And I’m like, I work out literally every single day.”

Plus-size model Hunter McGrady tells us about how she didn't want to "hide anything" during her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot, and how she got a lot of DMs after appearing on Shrill.
Plus-size model Hunter McGrady tells us about how she didn't want to "hide anything" during her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot, and how she got a lot of DMs after appearing on Shrill.

The model also preaches eating healthy, but most importantly learning to love your own body, including the curves that are unique to you.

“Not all of us have a perfect hourglass, not all of us have the same stretch marks, some of us have rolls in different places,” McGrady says. “Don’t just go off of what you’ve seen, go in and be you and say, ‘Hey listen, this is why you need me.’”

McGrady says that despite those who refuse to embrace the way that the industry is evolving to become more inclusive, she and other models leading the change won’t be silenced.

“I’m sure a lot of people would love for us to be silenced, and there’s a lot of negativity out there,” she says. “And I think that it’s our job now to really push it forward and to continue this conversation and to move it.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.