Swimsuit

Hunter McGrady Shares Her Favorite SI Swimsuit Photo Alongside Heartfelt Message

The 2024 cover girl and brand legend is also a mom of two and cohost of the ‘Model Citizen’ podcast.

Ananya Panchal

Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Mexico.
Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Mexico. / Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Hunter McGrady has dedicated her career to advocating for size diversity and inclusion in the modeling industry, and encouraging women to love their bodies at any shape, size or stage of life. The mom of two, who shares kids Ava and Hudson with her husband, Brian Keys, recently landed on the front of the 2024 SI Swimsuit Issue, following a marvelous photo shoot with Yu Tsai in Mexico. The 31-year-old is still not over her cover girl moment, and neither are we.

“One of my all-time favorite pictures I’ve ever taken for Sports Illustrated. My goodness, if I could go back and tell my younger self to extend grace and compassion to her body, I would in a heartbeat. I spent years berating myself in the mirror, praying to be smaller, to become the tiniest version of myself, no matter the cost—which was almost always my happiness,” McGrady candidly shared on Instagram. “Today, I stand proud of this body. I am grateful for this body. I love this body in a swimsuit. I love this body covered up. I love this body in every way.”

The Model Citizen podcast cohost made her debut with the brand in 2017, and has now appeared in a total of six separate SI Swimsuit magazines.

Tons of fans chimed in to the comments section to celebrate McGrady’s achievement and thank her for her profound mission and using her platform for good.

“The way we all needed you when we were 13 😭😭 so happy for the younger generation to have these examples from day one!!!” one person exclaimed.

“All I can is I wish I had you to look up to when I was growing up. You are an inspiration. Thank you,” another added.

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Ananya Panchal
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.

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