Earlier this week, swimwear line Swimsuits For All announced they would feature plus-size model Ashley Graham in its ad in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.
The ad got a lot of attention, because it marks the first time a curvy woman will appear in the annual issue in which models usually look like this:
But it turns out Graham isn't the only plus-size model to appear in SI's pages this year.
Robyn Lawley, a 25-year-old Australian, will appear in the magazine's "Rookies" section.
While the average American woman is a size 14, Lawley is a very fit, healthy size 12.
Many are confused why Lawley usually works as a "plus-size" model.
I'm non-plussed by use of "plus-size" here. MT @eonline: SI's first official plus-size model http://t.co/ZQYpMWdJtDpic.twitter.com/HwXvY144WE
— Jon Weisman (@jonweisman) February 5, 2015Rough living in a world where the perfection that is Robyn Lawley is considered plus size pic.twitter.com/2OTjMr1W8R
— Christy Fox (@christyecf) February 5, 2015Can I be stoked that Robyn Lawley is appearing in SI while being furious that this is what we consider "plus size"pic.twitter.com/Tsap9lQGH7
— Molly Mulshine (@mollymulshine) February 5, 2015If Robyn Lawley is a plus size model, then I'm a baby rhinoceros
— Deja Knight (@deja_knight) January 20, 2015
But Sports Illustrated assures that Lawley's inclusion in the issue is as a model rather than as a plus-size model.
"She sort of embodies the classic SI girl — she’s interesting, she’s beautiful, she has an incredible body, and I felt that she would make a great addition to the issue," MJ Day, assistant managing editor of Sports Illustrated, told Time. "It was simple as that."
For her part, Lawley said to Time: "I don’t know if I consider myself as a plus-size model or not. I just consider myself a model because I’m trying to help women in general accept their bodies."
"I can see the ramifications on young women if their body is similar or larger than mine and they see a 'plus size' label,' Lawley told Daily Mail Australia. "I just see no reason in any labels really, I just want women [to be] happy with their bodies."
Regardless, Lawley, who is represented by Wilhelmina Models, is happy to be included in this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.
She told Time: "I never thought that this would happen to me, so this is a milestone. When I started my career 10 years ago, I had to painfully go to castings and people would look at you and say, 'What the hell are you doing here?'… I want to be there for the regular girls who are my size."
The Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, featuring Hannah Davis on the cover, hits newsstands Feb.9.
SEE ALSO: The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue will feature its first plus-size model — in an ad
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Why Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Molly Sims Threw Out Her Scale