'It's ludicrous to call me plus size' - Sports Illustrated model

Daily Mail

10 Feb, 2015 07:45 PM3 mins to read

Aussie model Robyn Lawley didn't know she was pregnant during her Swimsuit shoot. Photo / Sports Illustrated

She's referred to herself as plus sized on her website, but Robyn Lawley says it's "ludicrous" that people are calling her the first plus size model to pose for Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue.

Taking to Facebook to share her message, the 25-year-old wrote that the publication never referred to her as curvier than average.

"It's ludicrous to call me plus size and I've stated that publicly pretty much every step of the way, of my career, @si_swimsuit are at the forefront of embracing women of a variety of sizes!

"They've been doing that from the beginning and they have not once called me plus size, it's about time we forgo labels and embraced size diversity in the fashion world and mainstream media!!! #loveyournaturalsize."

The model, who is 6ft 2in and size 12, shot the images last year in America's Jackson Hole when she was one month pregnant, she is due to give birth any day now.

In one image she poses in front of a snow capped mountain wearing a snake skin printed orange bikini as she smiled at the camera.

In another she wore a bikini she designed herself, showing off her abs and toned legs.

Lawley, who features on the rookie pages, spoke on America's Today Show, saying it's a struggle to be accepted in the industry and also for herself to accept her own body.

"When I first started I really had an immense hate for my body. I held it really accountable for holding me back," she said.

"And I just felt disappointed, you know, I was like 'Why didn't I get a skinny body?' [This is] such a feat and I'm really happy and I'm so thrilled with Sports Illustrated for using me."

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph on Saturday she said: "It's is just so iconic," also adding: "I've always loved [Sports Illustrated] especially the early 90's and 80's, like Kathy Ireland and Elle Macpherson and Heidi Klum.

"There are just so many iconic models who have started or even just solely been featured on SI that has propelled their careers to you know unfathomable lengths. So I'm super, super excited."

The Australian, who was born in Sydney, also spoke about how excited she and partner, Everest Schmidt, are to meet their baby.

Also adding she is in no rush to lose her baby weight and that she will be taking her time and getting to know the child.

Lawley isn't the only curvy model to feature in this year's Swimsuit Edition, Asley Grahmam, a size 16 beauty also appears in the issue, released on February 9th.