“Sports Illustrated” added this curvy, body-positive model to its Swimsuit Issue, and we couldn’t be more proud of her

Shaunna Murphy
Updated
“Sports Illustrated” added this curvy, body-positive model to its Swimsuit Issue, and we couldn’t be more proud of her
“Sports Illustrated” added this curvy, body-positive model to its Swimsuit Issue, and we couldn’t be more proud of her

For all five of you who thought body positivity and size inclusivity were just passing trends in the fashion industry, we’ve got some bad news: Sports Illustrated chose model Myla Dalbesio as rookie of the year for their famous annual Swimsuit Issue, because homegirl looks slammin in her size 10 bikini.

The magazine garnered a whole lot of media attention back in the halcyon days of 2016, when they included famous plus-size model Ashley Graham as one of the Swimsuit Issue’s cover girls alongside Ronda Rousey and Hailey Clauson.

Flash forward one year later, and they’re showing a real commitment to moving past the modeling industry’s damaging obsession with one type of body (the rail thin with big boobs kind) over all others by including Dalbesio in this year’s roster.

✨☔️ . . . . . . #trueandco #lingerie #model #curves #ootd

A photo posted by MYLA DALBESIO (@myladalbesio) on Nov 29, 2016 at 8:57am PST

Already famous in the industry for her “groundbreaking” 2014 Calvin Klein campaign, the beauty is a hardworking hustler and, based on her social media accounts at least, a very politically engaged feminist.

“And now a break from my regularly scheduled political griping to share with you the exciting news that I’ve been included as a rookie for this years issue of @si_swimsuit!” she posted on Instagram this Tuesday. “This has been a goal of mine for a decade, and I am so proud to have gotten here.

It feels strange to celebrate right now at this strange moment in world history, but I hope that this can be an example for other women to continue to stand strong in their convictions and not be afraid to use their voice. And for girls in the industry, I hope this is reassurance that you don’t need to have 1 million followers to be noticed. You can still be judged by the quality of work you do and the person you are. Which, I think, is something to celebrate.

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And now a break from my regularly scheduled political griping to share with you the exciting news that I've been included as a rookie for this years issue of @si_swimsuit! This has been a goal of mine for a decade, and I am so proud to have gotten here. It feels strange to celebrate right now at this strange moment in world history, but I hope that this can be an example for other women to continue to stand strong in their convictions and not be afraid to use their voice. And for girls in the industry, I hope this is reassurance that you don't need to have 1 million followers to be noticed. You can still be judged by the quality of work you do and the person you are. Which, I think, is something to celebrate. Thank you to everyone who has helped me over the years, I would never be here without you, and I am eternally grateful. photo by my dude @wattsupphoto. THANK YOU to @mj_day @darciebaum @ja_neyney @srdalbesio @djdavies @natedoggfromiowa @taylorstepien @teachamantafish @the_bms @nextmodels @mothermodel @mpmegamiami @idaliasalsamendi @kylehagler @garydakin @jacks23 @adamkhughes @jonilaninyc @dlottmusic @uralucky1 ✨ See you all at VIBES in Houston next month! #SISWIM2017

A photo posted by MYLA DALBESIO (@myladalbesio) on Jan 31, 2017 at 9:19am PST

In addition to Dalbesio, SI will feature Olympians Simone Biles and Aly Raisman in the issue, because again, bodies of all shapes and sizes are beautiful, and that includes impossibly toned, gravity-defying gymnasts.

Kudos to Sports Illustrated for their commitment to change, and to Dalbesio for doing her damn thing no matter what the fashion industry says about women above a size 2.