Plus-size model on cover of Sports Illustrated

Cape Town - British plus-size model Ashley Graham has hailed Sports Illustrated for challenging narrow and unrealistic perceptions of beauty after being chosen to appear in a groundbreaking front cover.

According to the Independent, Graham was selected alongside UFC fighter Ronda Rousey and model Hailey Clauson to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, becoming the first UK size 16 woman to grace the front of the magazine’s annual swimsuit edition.

She already made history by being one of the first ever curve models to feature in an advert that ran in the magazine last year.

Graham shared a picture of the cover that comes just months after that achievement on Instagram:

Truly speechless!!! This cover is for every woman who felt like she wasn't beautiful enough because of her size. You can do and achieve anything you put your mind to. Thank you so much to the entire @si_swimsuit team! I'm so excited to be a part of your family. I love you all!!! #siswim #beautybeyondsize

A photo posted by A S H L E Y G R A H A M (@theashleygraham) on Feb 13, 2016 at 9:05pm PST