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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Robyn Lawley recalls posing for mag while pregnant: ‘They don’t care about stretch marks’

Model Robyn Lawley says posing for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue makes her feel comfortable in the skin she’s in.

“Sports Illustrated has always been very positive,” the Aussie stunner told Page Six Style at the 2024 issue’s launch party in NYC Thursday.

“They don’t care about stretch marks, they don’t care about cellulite and that really helps me to love my body for what it is.”

Robyn Lawley made history in 2015 as the first-ever plus-size model to pose for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. WireImage
The Aussie model says the magazine doesn’t care about stretch marks or cellulite. Getty Images for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

Lawley made history in 2015 as the first-ever plus-size model to appear in the bikini bible — and didn’t even know she was pregnant with her first child at the time.

She went on to star in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 issues.

“I was recovering from childbirth and pregnancy,” Lawley shared before noting that while her “body love” has fluctuated over the years, “MJ [Day, SI Swim’s editor-in-chief] always makes me feel so good about my body.”

Lawley says editor MJ Day has helped her love her own body. Robyn Lawley/Instagram
The Vogue Italia cover girl has appeared in SI Swimsuit four times. Robyn Lawley/Instagram

Day, who has been with the brand since 1999, has led the charge in changing the look of the magazine.

Last year, lifestyle guru Martha Stewart made history as SI Swimsuit’s oldest cover star at age 81, and in 2021, Leyna Bloom became the mag’s first transgender cover star.

Lawley, for her part, has also posed for Vogue Italia, French Elle, Cosmopolitan and Australian Vogue, in addition to scoring campaigns for H&M, Mango, Ralph Lauren and more.

Lawley has also posed for Vogue Italia, French Elle, Cosmopolitan and Australian Vogue. Frazer Harrison
She’s starred in campaigns for H&M, Mango, Ralph Lauren and more. Splash News/Boux Avenue

But it has’t all been smooth sailing for the style star.

In 2018, she suffered a scary fall after suffering a seizure brought on by lupus. She still has a faint scar on her lip from the incident, and has said she has “no desire” to get rid of it.

“Lupus is really shocking,” she told us, explaining that the autoimmune disorder caused a blood clot which led to the stroke.


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Lawley also opened up about having a stroke after giving birth. Robyn Lawley/Instagram
The model says her stroke was brought on by lupus. Robyn Lawley/Instagram

Lawley claimed that going “raw vegan” five years ago cured the condition.

“They say you can’t cure lupus but you can, you have to change your diet,” she told us. “You have to eat lots of green cruciferous vegetables and omega-3 flax seeds and chia seeds.”

“I learned from a doctor and recovered,” Lawley added. “And [Sports Illustrated has] been on the journey with me.”