8 Photos of Former SI Swim Cover Girl Ashley Graham in Fiji

Ashley Graham was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji.<p>Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated</p> — Ashley Graham was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

When she landed the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue as a rookie in 2016, Ashley Graham made history. After her photoshoot in Turks and Caicos with James Macari, she was the first plus-sized model to grace the magazine’s cover. Graham would return to the fold the following two years: she traveled to Fiji with Yu Tsai, then jetted to Nevis with Josie Clough.

In addition to her work as a model, the 35-year-old mom of three is also a published author and television host. She uses her platform to advocate for model size diversity and inclusion, and her stance on body positivity is one of the many things that her followers connect with the most.

“My fans and I have a very special connection,” Graham admitted while on location with SI Swimsuit. “And I feel like we do because I look at them all as like my brothers and sisters and so I’ve always taken this job and this role as not only a model but an activist and a role model not lightly at all because I know what it takes to finally find the hope and the confidence within yourself to do what you want to do.”

Below are eight of our favorite photos of Graham in Fiji where her confidence shines through.