Yumi Nu is making history as the first Asian curvy model to pose for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit.
The Japanese-Dutch model / singer-songwriter will make her debut in the 2021 edition, which will hit newsstands on July 20.
“We work with a lot of amazing women. Yumi, however, has the greatest amount of confidence and appreciation for herself and the body that we have ever seen,” editor-in-chief MJ Day told Fox News in a written statement.
“She does not follow any standard of traditional beauty and gracefully does not apologize for seeing herself as a powerful, beautiful and sensual woman,” Day continued. “She is strong for women and has the mission to end the conversation about the limitation of women in the industry.
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Yumi Nu is making history as the first Asian curvy model to pose for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit.
(Yu Tsai / Sports Illustrated)
“Not only is she stunning and an extraordinary model, but she radiates warmth and the kind of energy that we always want close by. Yumi’s photos are some of my favorites and so is she!”
Nude has been a plus size model for more than a decade, People magazine reported on Friday. She was photographed by veteran SI swimwear photographer Yu Tsai in December in Tampa, Florida.
“I am very honored to be part of the SI Swim family and represent my Asian curvy girls,” the star told the outlet.
“The fact that SI Swimsuit has the platform they have and they choose to focus their power on inclusion means a lot to me,” said Nu. “Women of all ages, sizes and colors are represented, and it was one of the first major publications to do that. I can see that your heart is authentic in making the world a more diverse place. It is incredible to see this ripple effect in the industry and the mainstream media. “
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(LR): Yu Tsai, MJ Day, Camille Kostek and Danielle Herrington participate in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 open cast call during Miami Swim Week – Day 1 at the W Hotel on July 12, 2019 in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Alexander Tamargo / Getty Images for Sports Illustrated)
According to Nu, she is using her social media platform to encourage others to become allies in light of the recent wave of attacks on Asian Americans.
“The Asian community is not always loud,” she explained. “The vision of our Asian society through the lens of the model minority myth has silenced us for many years. In this age of anti-Asian violence, it is so important now, more than ever, for Asians to be heard and supported.”
“The division and racism in our world has gotten really bad; we have distanced ourselves so much from love and connection, ”Nu told the channel. “I want to create a space for people to feel heard and safe. That is my purpose on this earth.”