Swimsuit

Mia Kang Proudly Showed Off a Strong Physique During Her SI Swim Photo Shoot in Mexico

The model and Muay-Thai fighter embraces a healthy body and mindset.

Beth Sobol

Mia Kang poses in front of the ocean in a crocheted bikini top and holds her arms above her head.

Mia Kang.

Mia Kang, who won the SI Model Search in 2016, went south of the border to Mexico for her 2017 SI Swim photo shoot. In one scorching picture after the other, Kang shows off her curves in a series of bikinis and, in one shot, three barely-there, strategically placed pieces of lace.

Kang’s self-confidence shines through in every image shot by photographer Ruven Afanador. It’s something she’s worked hard for. Kang is publicly candid about her past struggles with an eating disorder and low self-esteem. She’s since become a body positivity advocate and a satisfied size 8. “I am so proud to see myself at my natural weight, recovered, finally healthy,” she posted on Instagram. "You have no idea what it means to be a part of the change.”

She’s also serious about Muay Thai, which she discovered on vacation in Thailand in 2016, the same year she won the SI Model Search. She’s even competed professionally. “Without it, I think I would have spiraled further down into my eating disorders and depression,” she wrote in her 2020 memoir “Knockout," explaining, “It opened a door for me and threw me a lifeline.”

In one of the snaps from her 2017 SI Swim photo shoot, she dons a sheer coverup with the words: Prettiest Fighter You Will Ever See.

Today, Kang, who was born in Hong Kong, is fit and thriving. She recently announced she wed UFC fighter Khalil Routntree in an intimate ceremony in Thailand, releasing a series of snaps with the comment: “It's been perfect.”

Here’s a look back at her photos from Mexico, which look honeymoon-ready.

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Beth Sobol

BETH SOBOL

Beth is a New York-based freelance writer. In addition to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, she contributes to editorial outlets including Women's Health and Reader's Digest. She also does content writing for marketing firms and private clients.