McGrady is a rulebreaker
The model and advocate shares how she learned to love her own skin
Hunter McGrady just got off the runway and she’s feeling good.
“I felt confident, sexy, strong,” the boisterous blond says of her turn on Olay’s #FaceAnything catwalk.
The New York Fashion Week event featured a group of inspiring women, including amputee model Mama Cax and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman strutting barefaced as their messages of empowerment sounded from the speakers.
At only 25, Sports Illustrated’s “curviest model ever” has become an influential body-positivity advocate, but McGrady says she didn’t always feel comfortable in her own skin.
“That’s something I’ve struggled with so much and I still have my bad days where it’s not easy to get out of bed and feel good about myself.”
Here, McGrady talks about cultivating confidence and not letting anyone tell you how to dress.
What’s your fashion philosophy?
I like to shock people. I’m a plus-sized model, so I like to always go against the grain. If someone says, ‘Don’t wear horizontal stripes,’ I’m going to wear horizontal stripes. If someone says, ‘Don’t wear body-con,’ I’m going to wear body-con. I really like to push the envelope and say, ‘Here’s who I am and I’m going to own it.’
Have you always been this confident, or is it something you’ve had to work on?
I think confidence is a learned thing. I started modelling when I was younger as a ‘straight-sized model’ and I was told I was too big all the time. Finally, after I got turned down for yet another job, I decided I was done — I wasn’t going to allow people to make me feel this way anymore. That moment was super transformative for my career and, most importantly, for my life and how I look at myself.
How did you get back into modelling after that experience?
I took a break and worked on myself. That’s when I learned about plus-size modelling, flipping through Vogue Italia and seeing three gorgeous models who are now my friends — Tara Lynn, Candice Huffine and Robyn Lawley. I saw them and thought, ‘Those girls look like me. I want to give this a try.’
What would be your message to women struggling with insecurities?
We are so brainwashed by society, which has deemed things like stretch marks, rolls or a bit of extra weight as ‘imperfections.’ I’m calling BS on that. I think we’re all beautiful and these so-called ‘undesirable’ things make us who we are. We need to know that we’re all worthy of feeling loved and beautiful.
Can you tell me about your collaborations with @the12ishstyle on Instagram?
My biggest thing is ‘wear exactly what you want to wear,’ and my friend Katie (Sturino, a.k.a. @the12ishstyle) does this really cool thing called #SupersizeTheLook where she takes celebrity outfits and finds dupes for larger women. The point is to show we can all wear the trends. We just have to get out of our comfort zones and say ‘OK, I’m going to get out of my own head and know that I look great.’
What are your favourite clothing brands or retailers?
I love Eloquii, ASOS Curve and Good American for denim. I live in Beyond Yoga — it’s so comfortable. Forever 21 has an amazing plus-size range and I like Premme, which is a new line by bloggers Nicolette Mason and Gabi Gregg.
A lot of brands just size up without really fitting plus-sized women’s proportions. If you can get stuff tailored, that’s amazing, but not everyone can afford that. In that case, you can use little styling tricks like adding a belt or rolling a cuff to make it your own.
In terms of inclusivity, do you feel like fashion is improving?
Compared to five years ago, yes, but I do think we have a long way to go. Even this New York Fashion Week, I saw a few more plus-sized and body-positive models on the runway, but not nearly enough. It’s never going to be enough until everybody is included.
I don’t think that’s an unfair thing to ask for.