The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit community is a group of models who are the embodiment of body positivity. Every year, SI Swimsuit holds a swim search contest to look for their next models. The COVID-19 pandemic couldn't stop this year's swim search from happening – it was held virtually and in partnership with the coconut water brand, Vita Coco. One very unique - and crucial - aspect of the virtual casting process was the community that was created. On the SI Swimsuit website, there is a way to join the community of like-minded women of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds with one common goal: to break barriers in the fashion industry and introduce a world of body positivity and inclusion.
I fell in love with the SI Swimsuit community in 2019 when I saw a video of Camille Kostek – SI Swim veteran – practicing her runway walk for Miami Swim Week. What really got me interested in her, and the SI Swim community as a whole is that – like all of their models I soon found out – Kostek is what I like to refer to as a real model. What I mean by "real" is that they aren't the stereotypical 5'8, 100-pound runway model that you see, or even the size 8 "plus-size" model you see in print. I was really drawn to the fact that there was representation for those who fall in between. Those in the middle. Those who are a normal body type – and that's any body type.
Recently, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit held their Miami Swim Week runway show, and it did not disappoint.
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has always been a powerhouse of diversity, even from the start. It began with Jule Campbell, a fashion reporter, who was tasked with finding beautiful models to feature in the magazine spread. Campbell became an iconic figure in this industry for featuring "bigger and healthier" women and printing their names beneath their photos. This created a new supermodel era and what would be the start of what the heart of SI Swim is about.
But that's on the tip of the iceberg of their successful body-positive campaign. In 2016, SI Swim crowned three cover models for their magazine issue, and they were all different sizes. These three models were Hailey Clauson, MMA star Ronda Rousey, and Ashley Graham. Another thing I really like about SI is that they have non-models featured in their magazine, which I think is phenomenal as women athletes deserve more recognition in the sports industry. 2019 was another great year for SI Swim, with Tyra Banks, Camille Kostek, and USWNT soccer star Alex Morgan. In recent years, they've tackled ageism, body image, and the "Me Too" movement.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic proved some difficulties and setbacks with the SI Swimsuit magazine, the SI Swim Search team got innovative. They created a community that allowed you to network with, celebrate, and meet all kinds of women from different backgrounds, vying for their shot at being a SI Swimsuit model. I had the opportunity to join this community as I entered to have a chance to be an SI Swim model. The community was so amazing and, honestly, so real and authentic. We celebrated each others' victories, recognized wonderful women who were on the frontlines battling the COVID-19 pandemic, and picked each other up when needed. I can't wait for the swim search to happen next year, and I really hope they keep this community.
As a public relations major, I'm automatically always thinking about how something as creative and innovative like this is going to help a brand stand out form the others. To put it frankly, SI Swimsuit is really doing everything right. I've never seen another brand really show this much devotion to creating a space – creating a world – where diversity and inclusion are normalized. Growing up, I always thought SI Swimsuit was like all of the other fashion brands that really stuck to catering to one target demographic of women, but I was thankfully mistaken.
We need to be focused more on SI Swimsuit than what goes on in the rest of the fashion industry. There's essentially a division in the fashion industry of "old school skinny supermodels" versus "new and unique-looking supermodels." These models, who *literally look like us* are breaking down barriers and doing so much to introduce a world of body positivity to the fashion world. I think we need to be more accepting and welcoming of the changes taking place in the fashion industry – they're inevitable and they're happening now.
