Ashley Graham Proved Her Supermodel Status on the Beaches of Nevis

The 2016 cover girl has starred in three separate SI Swimsuit Issues.

Ananya Panchal | May 29, 2024

Ashley Graham was photographed by Josie Clough in Nevis. / Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Ashley Graham made history with SI Swimsuit when she became the first plus-sized model to be featured on the front of the magazine in 2016. She was photographed by James Macari in Turks and Caicos for her magnificent, iconic debut with the brand. The 36-year-old returned to the fold the following two years, traveling to Fiji with Yu Tsai and Nevis with Josie Clough.

The mom of three, who shares sons Isaac, Roman and Malachi with husband Justin Ervin, has been creating waves in the industry since she began modeling more than two decades ago. The Nebraska native uses her platform to share behind the scenes content of her glamorous life, as well as spark industry conversations about important issues like diversity and inclusion. Graham also loves to share valuable advice and knowledge with young models in order to ensure that they have an easier and safer time starting a career than she did.

“I have been so blessed not only to talk about things that I want to talk about in my industry, but also to have a platform—and people want to hear about it. People want the change; people want the difference; people want to know what’s going on. People want to see themselves in the industry that for so long has ostracized girls of my size. And here we are finally at that breaking point where we're not having to have that conversation anymore,” Graham told Elle. “I wasn’t put on the cover of Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] as a plus-size model, I was put on the cover as a model, as a rookie, as Ashley Graham. This is exactly where we’re headed, and yes, there are so many more things we need to do in the curve/plus-size industry. But we are on our way and Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] made it very clear that they’re very excited for women diversity, especially in their magazine.”

Below are six stunning photos from her 2018 SI Swimsuit feature in Nevis.

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Published May 29, 2024

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.