Olivia Culpo on What Beauty Means, Miss Universe and Positive Self Worth - Swimsuit | SI.com

SI Staff | Jul 19, 2021

2021 SI Swimsuit Cover model Olivia Culpo was the shortest Miss USA and Miss Universe ever. At just 5’6 she explores how her own height at one point, had tarnished her own feelings of self-worth. “Why did I let that control so much of my self-worth? I think a lot of insecurities can come from society's standards or like what you’re told you should believe.” Since then she’s worked daily to redefine her own perspective of what true beauty is. “To truly just embrace who you are is a beautiful thing…beauty to me is love, charisma, energy.” To hear someone who was crowned both Miss USA and Miss Universe peel the layers of assumptions those titles give is powerful. “I would never say I've arrived at where I want to be…I love that about life…I love to grow.” She concludes, “For anyone watching this who doesn’t feel like they’re there yet it's because it's a lifelong journey.”

Beauty Evolution

ABOUT THE SERIES

We determine our beauty, not the eye of the beholder. From an early age, women are judged by their hair, the color of their skin, their clothes, and their bodies. Journey with our SI Swimsuit models as they discuss their beauty evolution, how they came to accept, honor, and embrace their bodies and beauty, and how they are rewriting the narrative on what it means to be powerful, beautiful, and who they are meant to be.

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