Memento Mori

For what it's worth, a new study asserting BMI is bullshit gets published about as often as the standard edition of Sports Illustrated. So yeah. But talk of BMI or "health" in the context of this announcement is, as I'm sure most are aware, pure concern trolling. One friendly tip: Claiming to oppose "political correctness" is a rhetorical tool of the political right that attempts to discredit social justice, and treating people who are different with respect, as insincere and cynical acts. Deploying it in defense of one's own statements is to call the Trumps, Farages, and Le Pens to your aid. You're saying, "No, actually, it's right to punch down." So, good luck with that.

I'll (roughly) translate the American Presidential candidates into European parties, for our European friends: Trump: National Front (France) Sanders: Social Democrats (Germany) <---who Emily endorsed Clinton: Labour circa Tony Blair (UK) Cruz & Carson: Justice and Development (Turkey) Rubio, Bush, Kasich, etc: Tories (UK) Anyway that's enough politics from me in this thread, but in fairness, Ms. Ratajkowski did bring it up.

Taxes are good. They pay for things people need. Like college, and health care. Emily understands this. You should listen to Emily.

Democratic socialism is good and cool, though. Much respect to Emily for endorsing the right candidate.

On some fundamental level they pick every model "for publicity." If it is the case here, it's also the case with a Gigi Hadid cover, or popular athletes' hot wives, athletes who were memes (Jenneke) or with big name recognition (Rousey), etc.

I think Jose Moran played third base for the Phillies.

I appreciate everything Daniela and and Danielle bring to the table, but they ought to switch positions in that pose.

From Pt.2 - Yoga from Khoa Bui Feel free to use the square B&W one as an avatar w/o permission.

Thanks! Glad you approve The video is from Gavin Bond's Vimeo channel. I'll do more from this later, just having a busy week.

Oh, and a quick one for if @DaniL wants an avatar:

I was looking forward to GIFing Daniela in SI swim, alas. Some from WSSA to hold us all over: (Will do more later, have a couple papers to finish editing.)

I don't disagree but I also wouldn't rule out the powers at be reveling in the hype, controversy, and attention, for its own sake.

Yeah. Imagine the number of hits an article like "GiGi Hadid* lashes out on Instagram over SI Swimsuit cover snub" would get. That said I'm just following your premise. I don't know how "models" feel about Ronda Rousey or would her hypothetical cover. *I just picked a name. Don't @ me.

Yeah, which is what Last Week Tonight made fun of them for last year. Manufactured controversies to draw hits.

It doesn't actually. Unless of course the products are sex and controversy themselves, in which case *points at the entire internet* there's rather a lot of competition. Which is part of why the Swimsuit Issue itself is widely seen as somewhat passe.

A Ronda cover when she's still undefeated and a Ronda cover following a high-profile beat down send two very different messages, one would think.

Wild speculation: Rousey's shooting schedule was pushed back after she got crushed rather than deliver another one of her usual 9 second victories.

I agree with both above posters. If they're going to include "plus size" models like Ashley Graham (and I think they should), they ought to put up and shut up.

Every time they bring back Kate Upton in any capacity I imagine a junkie chasing the dragon.

If they do go to the "legends" well again, it will only confirm my suspicions that SI's brain trust believes in the overblown fantasy of their own cultural relevance. As far as "plus size" models go, I am of two minds. I'm generally in favor of as diverse a presentation of beauty as possible when it comes to mainstream publications. But the problem is the very concept of plus size models is (rightly) met with derision from those bigger women I've seen comment on the issue. They (again, rightly) see Robyn Lawley as not representing some extreme that demands its own category, but being far closer in build to everyone else in the magazine than to themselves. Thus, they don't really achieve the goal of a more inclusive magazine, which makes SI's claim of inclusivity come off as an obnoxiously half-assed attempt to score points. But that's enough comment on rumor.

Glad to see we're still waiting. Great job, WSSA, good effort.

Some Guess stuff posted to her Instagram

I don't know why SI Swimsuit even bothers with the athletes anymore. ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue blows them out of the water in concept and execution. It's like some vestige of an attempt to claim "this is relevant to sports!" when that ship has long since sailed, nobody's buying it. That's not a slight on the athletes or their looks, it's just... like I said, a sorta vestigial afterthought.

Denise (instagram) would be great. No idea what her chances are.

I made the gif. I can crop it to an avatar-size one: https://i.imgur.com/HZ1Bttv.gif All yours!