Hunter McGrady pushes back against 'shed the holiday' weight narrative on magazine cover

Hunter McGrady is doing her part to combat harmful messaging about working toward a "new you" in the new year with a cover story for Health magazine's January/February 2022 issue.

The 28-year-old model took to her Instagram to share the beautiful cover which reads, "New Year, New Attitude!" After starting a conversation with her followers about the disheartening narrative around losing weight and shedding holiday pounds that so often bookends the festive season, McGrady wrote about the importance of updating that messaging in the media.

"[I] got an overwhelming response of over 10k answers stating you wanted to see body diversity, talk of confidence instead of weight, and talk of mental health," she explained. "Well, this is for you, for me, for us."

She continued, "To the me now that exists in a larger body. The me that grew up never seeing somebody like me on health magazines. The me that would stress about New Years goals because i was told by society that the only goal I should make [is] to be the thinnest version of me. The me that was always told I had to take certain steps and eat certain foods and look a certain way to be considered healthy."

McGrady has long been a powerful voice in the space of body acceptance, using her platform to discuss the issues that she's faced as a plus-size woman trying to make it in the modeling industry. She also hasn't shied away from sharing what she went through to try to change herself and her body as a teen working in the industry. Now, after a year of love and loss, as McGrady became a first-time mother shortly after the tragic death of her younger brother, she's even more focused on her mission to encourage diversity and acceptance in the areas where it's most needed.

"The me that is 5 months postpartum, after the most tumultuous, tragic, and yet wonderful year of my life. The me that has undergone massive change both physically and most certainly mentally," she continued her dedications. "And this is for you. May we continue to see the change and be the change that this world is hungry for."

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