Model Robyn Lawley recently shared that posing for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has boosted her confidence and body positivity.
“Sports Illustrated has always been very positive,” the Australian model told Page Six Style at the 2024 issue’s launch party in New York City on Thursday.
“They don’t care about stretch marks, they don’t care about cellulite and that really helps me to love my body for what it is,” Lawley said.
She made history in 2015 as the first-ever plus-size model to appear in the publication and revealed she didn’t even know she was pregnant with her first child at the time.
Lawley continued to feature in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 issues. She shared that while her “body love” has fluctuated over the years, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day has always made her feel good about her body. Day, who has been with the brand since 1999, has been instrumental in diversifying the magazine’s representation of beauty.
In recent years, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has made headlines for its inclusive covers, featuring lifestyle guru Martha Stewart as the oldest cover star at age 81 in 2023 and Leyna Bloom as the first transgender cover star in 2021.
Lawley has also graced the pages of Vogue Italia, French Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Australian Vogue, and has been featured in campaigns for H&M, Mango, Ralph Lauren, and more. However, her journey hasn’t been without challenges.
In 2018, Lawley suffered a severe fall following a seizure caused by lupus, resulting in a faint scar on her lip.
Despite the scar, she expressed no desire to have it removed. “Lupus is really shocking,” she explained, noting that the autoimmune disorder led to a blood clot and stroke.
Lawley claimed that switching to a raw vegan diet five years ago helped her manage the condition. “They say you can’t cure lupus but you can, you have to change your diet,” she said. “You have to eat lots of green cruciferous vegetables and omega-3 flax seeds and chia seeds.”
“I learned from a doctor and recovered,” Lawley added, acknowledging that Sports Illustrated has supported her throughout her health journey.
With her continued presence in the fashion industry and advocacy for body positivity, Lawley remains a trailblazer, demonstrating resilience and embracing her unique beauty.
