“Sports Illustrated” Swimsuit Issue meets the “Me Too” movement with “In Her Own Words”

Mireya Acierto/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Sports Illustrated‘s latest Swimsuit Issue features, as always, some of the most beautiful women in the world posing in some of the world’s most beautiful locales.  But in the midst of the #MeToo movement, it’s taken on a new light.

The latest issue highlights inner beauty, too, with a project the magazine called, “In Her Own Words.” Sports Illustrated says the black and white photos, which feature women bearing only inspirational phrases, help them, “share their truths and celebrate more than just their bodies.”

One of the models, Myla Delbasio bore the words, “Built to carry the weight.” She tells ABC Radio the meaning behind the caption, “I’ve struggled with a lot of things in my life. My parents both died when I was pretty young. And …I’ve struggled with body image issues, with addiction issues with self-worth, and also just many basic things that we as women deal with in the world every day. And so…what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. So I think in the end, all of those things have really built me up to be much tougher and more resilient person.”

Myla, who also poses in traditional skimpy swimsuit shots in the issue, tells ABC Radio that despite its pin-up reputation, the Swimsuit Issue “has always really been run by a woman.” She adds, “[S]ince I have been working with them, and I know many years prior to that, it’s been a very heavy heavily female team behind it.” 

This year, Danielle Herrington is the cover model for the issue.  TThe 24-year-old is the third African-American model to grace the cover of the annual swimsuit issue, following in the footsteps of Tyra Banks in 1997 and Beyoncé in 2007.

Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

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