Miami SwimWeek ’19 says “Don’t Change Yourself, Change the Game”
Still reeling from the captivating effects of Sports Illustrated Swim’s most diverse and body-positive runway show yet as seen at Miami Swim Week 2019, the words “self-love” has taken a whole new meaning. The brand’s message was that of empowerment and positive vibes, telling women everywhere to be comfortable in their own bodies and confident in their skin.
This message couldn’t have come at a better time judging by the undue pressures the society and media put on the modern woman and for that, they get all my praise.
Self-acceptance is gaining traction in the media, more so recently with the release of music mogul Beyoncé’s Brown Skin Girl featuring our very own star boy Wizkid, off the Lion King Album.
That song is definitely an ode to all women of color, which has gotten every Black/African girl so proud of her skin and heritage, going by the fact that it has been trending all over social media since its release last Friday.
Before all this, Sports Illustrated Swim had taken the self-appreciation message to the runway, since last year whenever it showcased its brand-new collection. The brand keeps pushing the boundaries with each show, last year they had a new mom strut down the runway with her baby latched onto her breast, this was their way of showing support to women in the light of the mom-shaming in relation to breastfeeding.
This year they took it up a notch first by hosting a noteworthy in-person SI Swimsuit Search to premiere their 2020 collection and then featuring the finalists, (women of all shapes and sizes, ages and color) at their runway show which took place at the W South Beach. This inclusive catwalk featured 5 of the 17 finalist; a 55 year-old model, a fitness instructor with alopecia who boldly unveiled it at the show by taking off her wig as she walked the runway, plus-sized model, a former dancer who after years of dancing dislocated both her legs and has been battling with an undiagnosed illness that has affected and weakened her ability to walk, and a Muslim model/activist.
By embracing different body types, the SI show depicts modern femininity and so is becoming one show that is more about women empowerment than just swimwear. Sports Illustrated Swim took this boundary-breaking message a notch higher at Miami Swim Week 19, preaching inclusivity by having Muslim model and activist, Halima Aden open the show.
