Hunter McGrady: The Model Who Rewrites the Rules of Beauty
With his appearance on the 60th anniversary cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Hunter McGrady proves that every body, at every size, deserves to be celebrated.
“Big is beautiful,” and curvy model Hunter McGrady is living proof of that. Featured on the cover of the 60th anniversary issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit “Legends” in 2024, Hunter is a positive and inspirational figure for young women, thanks to her revolutionary perspective on body image. Although she began her career at just 15 as a "normal" size model, at 19 she had to deal with the unrealistic beauty standards of agencies, who rejected her several times for having "too big" hips, despite being only a size 10. This experience pushed her to make the transition to the world of plus-size, a choice that redefined her mission: to demonstrate that every body is worthy of being celebrated.
Born in Los Angeles on May 4, 1993, Hunter has art in her blood: her father, Michael McGrady, is an actor, and her mother, Brynja McGrady, was a model. She has an older sister, Michaela, also in the fashion world, with whom she hosts the popular podcast Model Citizen . Unfortunately, in 2021, the family suffered a great loss with the death of their younger brother in a car accident. His life experiences have forged an admirable resilience. In high school she was bullied and constantly criticized for her height or not being thin enough. This past has allowed her to become a staunch supporter of mental health, so much so that she is an ambassador for the JED Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an organization that believes in the importance of talking about one's difficulties.
With a net worth of approximately six million dollars, Hunter made history as the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of The Knot . She created her own clothing line, All Is Worthy, available on QVC in a wide range of sizes, from XXS up to 5X. The goal of the line is clear: to give people strength and let them know that they are worthy of feeling beautiful. She also collaborated with the brand Playful Promises for a swimwear collection.
In 2017 he made his debut in the prestigious one Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition . In a photo shoot titled In Her Own Words , wrote words on her body that have great meaning to her, such as “trust,” “fearless,” and “worthy,” in homage to the #MeToo movement. Her plus-size modeling career was inspired by a shoot from Vogue Italia from June 2011 with models Candice Huffine, Tara Lynn and Robyn Lawley.
Today Hunter is married to Brian Keys, an advertiser she met on Snapchat. The couple has a son, born in 2021, and a daughter, born in 2023. In addition to being a mother, Hunter is also a caring stepmother to her husband's nine-year-old daughter, to whom she also recited her wedding vows on her wedding day. The most precious gift she received from her husband was an “updated” engagement ring, symbolizing an ever-evolving love. Immediately after the wedding, for their honeymoon, they made a stop at Disneyland.
In addition to her commitment to body positivity, Hunter has unexpected talents and passions. He loves to travel the world: Italy, in particular, is his favorite holiday destination. Once, during a photo shoot in Indonesia for Sports Illustrated , described the trip as his personal “Eat, Pray, Love.” She also has a hidden talent for surfing and, bored with her usual training routine, has started practicing a form of anti-mimicry. The craziest experience you've ever had? DJing on stage with Snoop Dogg. On Halloween 2019 she and her husband made a splash at Heidi Klum's famous party dressed as the Little Mermaid and Prince Eric.
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