Plus-Size Model Ashley Graham Is a ‘Sports Illustrated’ Swimsuit Issue Rookie

Ashley Graham sitting casually on the beach.

Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue may not exactly be ahead of the curve when it comes to representing body diversity, but late is better than never.

On Tuesday, plus-size model Ashley Graham was announced as one of the 2016 issue’s five ‘rookies’—to be voted on by the public in an upcoming poll. Whichever rookie wins is guaranteed a spot in the 2017 issue as well.

In the magazine’s 52-year existence, Graham—who’s appeared in campaigns for Forever 21 and Lane Bryant—is the first-ever true plus-size lady to snag a spot in an SI editorial. (Model Robyn Lawley, who’s technically considered “plus size” by industry standards, was a rookie in 2015—but typically, people feel that the label applies to sizes 12/14 and above.)

Graham in her current SwimsuitsforAll campaign.

“It’s official - I’m a @si_swimsuit model!!” the 28-year-old wrote on Instagram. “This is a dream come true. Thank you to everyone who stood up for curves- our voices were heard and together we can help me win Rookie of the Year.”

Still, this isn’t the first time Graham’s been on the pages of Sports Illustrated: Last year, she starred in an in-mag print ad for SwimsuitsforAll—and will repeat the gig again in 2016.

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