Inside Hunter McGrady’s Postpartum Shoot For Her SI Swimsuit Cowl

The now 31-year-old mannequin made her debut with SI Swimsuit at 22 and has been an advocate for physique positivity and inclusivity ever since.

Practically ten years later, she seems on certainly one of 4 covers for the journal’s sixtieth anniversary situation for the primary time. Chrissy Teigen, Gayle King, and Kate Uptonare the opposite three stars who landed a canopy spot.

When talking on the photoshoot, McGrady says, “It was such a surreal second.”

“I robotically thought again to little me and what that will imply to me, seeing any person like me on the quilt of any journal, not to mention Sports activities Illustrated Swimsuit. It is big,” she instructed PEOPLE Journal. 

Whereas Upton, McGrady, King, and Teigen had been the 4 stars to be featured on the covers, the Legends photoshoot additionally included Martha Stewart, Christie Brinkley, Tyra Banks, and extra.

“I’ve met Tyra [Banks] earlier than, however your coronary heart by no means stops sinking while you meet Tyra,” she stated of the mannequin. “I grew up together with her being that particular person on my tv who was the final word mannequin.”

The 31-year-old welcomed her daughter in March 2023, that means she was “about eight and a half months postpartum when [she] shot this cowl.”

“And I used to be identical to, ‘I would like my daughter to see this someday. I would like the following era to see this. I would like our era to see this,'” she added.

“My physique’s not what it was once I was 22,” McGrady acknowledged. “It’s totally totally different when you’ve got children. I’ve tons extra stretch marks, and issues are lots softer, and there is much more cellulite, however that is okay.”

The mannequin and mother of two stated she is “simply proud to be a part of Sports activities Illustrated Swimsuit.“

“I’m happy with the corporate as a complete, I’m happy with the imprint that they’ve made on society they usually proceed to make,” she added. “And that will genuinely be my all-encompassing phrase: proud.”

When talking on the Legends photoshoot, SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day stated, “We assembled a few of our most influential alumni collectively for one legendary picture shoot. Positive, it seems again on historical past.”

“However extra considerably, it’s a window into the current—the place we’re proper now—and a hope for the longer term. The outcome was nothing in need of spectacular,” Day continued. “So spectacular that we created three covers, a triptych that speaks to the collective energy, energy, magnificence, and variety that’s what SI Swimsuit seems like at 60.”

Forward of Style Week in 2019, Hunter McGrady opened up about what inclusiveness means to her.

“For me, I used to be actually selective. I am not even attending any occasions or any reveals that aren’t inclusive. Any time my managers come to me with a present, that is my first query: ‘Do they plan to be numerous this season?’ If the reply is ‘no,’ then I will not be there,” she instructed FashionIsta.

“As a result of I need to help manufacturers who’re giving the correct message. Who’re doing the correct issues? That is the type of style I need to help: when individuals are leaping on the correct facet of historical past,” the dimensions 16 mannequin continued.

The dimensions 16 supermodel additionally spoke about what authenticity means to her.

“For me, being genuine means to not conform to society’s beliefs. You need to deal with your physique; you must nourish it like it’s a temple,” she stated in a body-positivity advert for bottled water firm Icelandic Glacial. “You need to eat clear, drink clear. I drink Icelandic Glacial as a result of it’s purely genuine. Similar to me.”

McGrady additionally shared the information on her social media: “So pumped to share my marketing campaign with @icelandicglacial #pureauthenticity and bottled on the supply. Love this water, love this message, love this model. To prime it off, my mom and grandmother are from Iceland! #icelandicglacial.”