This year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will make history by featuring a plus-size model—in its advertising, anyway.
The gorgeous model, Ashley Graham, will not be posing in the editorial content next to the Chrissy Teigens and Kate Uptons of the world but in an ad by Swimsuits For All—an online retailer for women sizes 8 through 34.
"I know my curves are sexy, and I want everyone else to know that theirs are too," Graham says in a statement. "There is no reason to hide and every reason to flaunt. The world is ready for more curves in bikinis. Swimsuits For All helps women feel confident and sexy in swimsuits, and I am so thrilled to be a part of the #CurvesinBikinis campaign!"
For those who think she has no place being in Sports Illustrated ("With America's obesity issues, promoting this is dangerous," reads one comment on Facebook), the size-16 model has also launched a workout video series called The Curvy Fit Club with Net-a-porter.
The Swimsuits For All ad was created by KraftWorks in New York, which is run by Neil Kraft, the former Calvin Klein creative director who made Marky Mark and his Calvins famous. The photograher is the famed Russell James.
This is reportedly the first time that a plus-size model will be seen in Sports Illustrated—much less the Swimsuit Issue—and it took buying power to get her there.
CREDITS
Client: Swimsuits For All
Agency: KraftWorks
Creative Director: Neil Kraft
Photographer: Russell James
Art Director: Karen Lee
Director of Account Strategy: Elisabeth Smith
Videographer: Brian Quist