Sports Illustrated Swimsuit launched their first ever swimwear line designed for every woman during Miami Swim Week. In the show, women over size 18 were featured but not everyone was happy. A debate sparked in Australia when columnist of The Daily Telegraph Soraiya Fuda wrote how women over size 18 don’t belong on the runway. In her article she said, “But it seems to the women who appeared to be approaching the sizes 20-26 on the catwalk are less representative of the average woman but are representative of a big underlying societal problem.”

A post shared by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@si_swimsuit) on Jul 26, 2017 at 9:29am PDT

Dr. Brad Frankum of the Australian Medical Association agreed that having these curvy women walk the runway sends the wrong message, “If someone was walking down the catwalk smoking a cigarette there would be an outcry because that would be a very unhealthy message. Similarly if we send very overweight or obese women down the catwalk modeling clothes, whit it is saying, in a way is that we are celebrating obesity.”

A post shared by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@si_swimsuit) on Jul 26, 2017 at 1:32pm PDT

The swimwear line was made for women of all shapes and sizes shares Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor MJ Day, “The priority was fit, fashion, and size inclusivity.” Prof. John Dixon head of clinical research at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute also think that representation is important, “With it being normal to be overweight in our community and so many—28 percent of Australians being obese—it is quite offensive to say that obese people should not be on a catwalk.”

Representation of all forms is important. If you’re confident in your body and you take care of it as best you can, who are we to judge? Watch these women strut their stuff and love their body during the fashion show.

[BBC]

Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated Swimwear’s Instagram account

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