WHO IS SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ROOKIE MODEL OF THE YEAR?
Sports Illustrated decided to highlight three rookie models for the 2018 Swimsuit Issue. Which makes me wonder who your favorite of the three would be.
Check out the descriptions from SI and some of their Instagram pics below and scroll back up to vote on your favorite!
OLIVIA CULPO - “I am honored to be in such great company with such an iconic brand,” Culpo, the 25-year-old Instagram model and former Miss Universe, told SI. This was a major goal of mine because many of the women that have posed for SI have gone on to have such inspirational careers. I feel so blessed that this goal is becoming a reality and it shows me that hard work and positive intentions can lead to something amazing." BTW – She dates Danny Amendola – has been for almost 2 years.
EBONEE DAVIS - Meanwhile Davis, a 25-year-old model, recently gave a TED Talk about racism in the modeling industry. Davis, who was a SI model-search contestant in 2016, tells SI, “I am not only coming back as a rookie, I am coming back as Ebonee. The real me. Unapologetic and 100 percent true to myself.” Following the model search competition in 2016, I was certain my time with Sports Illustrated had reached its end," Ebonee explained. "Shortly after the competition wrapped, and after years of conforming to industry standards, I made the career altering decision to go natural and became vocal about the racial bias I experienced during my time in the industry. "Getting the call to shoot for this year's issue of Sports Illustrated was the last thing I expected, especially after changing my appearance and speaking out, but it was one of the most fulfilling moments of my career," she continued. "What I know now that I didn't know in 2016 is I am most powerful when I am creating from my own lane and my authentic self is good enough. I am not only coming back as a rookie, I am coming back as Ebonee. The real me. Unapologetic and 100% true to myself."
HUNTER MCGRADY - is a 23-year-old plus-size activist and was photographed wearing only body paint for the mag’s 2017 issue.
“Here I am, a size 16 at nearly 6 feet tall and am yet again in what is considered the sexiest magazine to come out every year!” McGrady writes on her Instagram."I feel so insanely grateful to have been asked back and am now a rookie!" Hunter told Swim Daily. "This is a dream come true! It shows women everywhere that regardless of your size, we are ALL sexy, beautiful, confident, and empowering, and I'm so happy Sports Illustrated is continuing this body positive conversation.