Sports Illustrated has seen some significant departures from its usual conventions in the latest issue. The changes are rather apparent and have received widespread support. Instead of photoshopping the images of their models, which is the usual practice of magazines, they have opted to use photos that haven’t been touched up.
This change is something we can all get behind. In a world where ‘perfection’ implies hiding and/or changing a part of yourself, it’s refreshing to see a publication subvert these conventions. You may have already heard of Genie Bouchard, who recently shared her father’s sweet reaction to a sizzling photoshoot she took for the magazine.
Still more recently, Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman shared a photograph from her own photoshoot for the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated on her Instagram account. She included this powerful message: “Women do not have to be modest to be respected– Live for you! Everyone should feel comfortable expressing themselves, however, makes them happy…”
She added: “Women can be intelligent, fierce, sexy, powerful, strong, and advocate for change while wearing what makes them feel best. The time when women are taught to be ashamed of their bodies is OVER. The female body is beautiful and we should all be proud of who we are, inside and out. Thank you so much @si_swimsuit@mj_day @darciebaum @ja_neyney@taylorbphoto & the rest of the team.”
In her interview with Sports Illustrated, she elaborated on the issue stating, “I would like to remind everyone that being a survivor is nothing to be ashamed of, and going through a hard time does not define you.”
She continued, “I hope that we can one day get to a point where everyone realizes that women do not have to be modest to be respected. We are free to draw confidence and happiness in our own way, and it is never for someone else to choose for us or to even judge us for that matter.”
Discussing the campaign ‘In Her Own Words’ she says, the movement “serves as a reminder that we are all humans, we are all battling something, and it is ok to not be ok. We are not alone and we need each other.”
Aly Raisman was an integral voice in the Larry Nassar trial. In her testimony, she told Nassar and the court, “How do you sleep at night? You are the person they had ‘take the lead on athlete care.’ I cringe to think your influence remains in the policies they [USA Gymnastics] claim will make athletes safe. I will not rest until every last trace of the influence you had on this sport has been destroyed like cancer it is.”
The disgraced doctor was sentenced to over 100 years in jail for his crimes.
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