In matters of fashion and body positivity, few names echo as loudly as Hunter McGrady. As a model, influencer, and activist, McGrady has long been a passionate advocate for inclusion and self-love in a world that has been well-covered long enough to be infamous for its limiting conceptions of beauty. Breaking down walls and pushing stereotypes aside, she has transformed the job of a model in the 21st century. Here, we’re going to provide you with everything that you’d love to know about Hunter McGrady, from her life and career to her activism and what she’s up to in the world of fashion and otherwise.
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Who is Hunter McGrady?
Hunter McGrady is an American plus-size model, author, and body activist. She was born to Michael Ann McGrady, an actress and model, and Shawn McGrady, a musician, on December 9, 1993, in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in a family that was directly involved in the entertainment field. With creativity growing around her her entire life, Hunter’s formative years were pointing her toward being an entertainer, yet something different about her kept her in front of the crowd compared to everyone else.
McGrady made the headlines in 2017 when she became the largest model to grace the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, donning a size 16. McGrady has since become a fashion world diversity and inclusivity trailblazer and has leveraged her platform to advocate for body acceptance, as well as self-acceptance.
Hunter McGrady’s Career Journey
Hunter McGrady’s life career is a testament to her determination and perseverance to break stereotypes. Here is a rundown of her life career:
Early Beginnings
McGrady’s fascination with modeling started when she was a little girl, having been inspired by her mother, a model. But she did not have an easy time. When she was a teenager, she was rejected by modeling agencies for being too large, something that deterred her from pursuing a career in the fashion industry. McGrady refused to give up on her ambitions and continued by signing with a plus-size agency, a move that set the stage for her record-breaking career.
Breakthrough with Sports Illustrated
In 2017, McGrady smashed the barrier as the first plus-size model to appear in the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Appearances were made for her, and it was a breakthrough within the world of fashion, as it shattered all the traditional beauty norms and introduced diversity. McGrady’s authenticity and self-assurance endeared her to individuals around the world, and she garnered a critical reception for her spread, which made her a body positivity icon.
Diversifying Her Portfolio
Since beginning with Sports Illustrated, McGrady has walked for a number of high-end brands and publications. She has done New York Fashion Week, worked for major box stores like Lane Bryant and Target, and been on the cover of Elle and Cosmopolitan. Being able to model has allowed her to succeed at commercial and editorial jobs, as well as further establishing herself in the industry.
Author and Entrepreneur
Aside from modeling, McGrady is also an author. In 2021, she wrote the book, All Worthy: A Practical Guide to Living Your Truth and Loving Your Body, where she shares with readers how she learned to embrace herself and provides practicality to readers who would want to learn to love their own bodies. The book has also been referred to as raw and real and is just another example of how McGrady has cemented her position as a leader within the body positivity movement.
Hunter McGrady’s Advocacy Work
Hunter McGrady’s reach extends far past the runway. She is a dedicated body positivity, diversity, and mental health advocate. Following are some of the most significant ways in which she is using her platform to create change:
Championing Body Positivity
McGrady is a strong body-positive activist, encouraging individuals to love their bodies just as they are. She takes to social media, public speeches, and her book to share her own body image struggle story and offer hope to others enduring the same. She is teaching one positive message: beauty in form and size, and everyone must feel comfortable in themselves.
Promoting Diversity in Fashion
As a plus-size model, McGrady has been at the forefront of demanding greater diversity in the fashion industry. She has spoken out publicly against designers and brands who do not have size diversity and has worked to open up more opportunities for size models. Her efforts have made a more inclusive and representative fashion industry.
Mental Health Awareness
McGrady is also a campaigning mental illness. She describes herself freely in regard to periods of depression and worry. She speaks out in a bid to limit the stigma with which mentally ill people are attached and inspire other people to talk when in need of advice. She achieved this while keeping free from shyness, hence a self-effacing hero in the eyes of many.
By what she does, McGrady aims to empower women to love themselves in their own skin and be their dream selves without apology. She talks a lot about being true to themselves, about grit, and about self-love, and she calls her followers to live without apology.
Hunter McGrady’s Personal Life
Although McGrady is most renowned for her professional success, she lives out her values of love, family, and honesty in her life away from work. She wed producer and musician Brian Keys in 2019 in an elegant wedding that embodied their love and commitment. Their first son, Hudson, was born in 2022. McGrady has shown the world what it means to be a mother, showing the world the best of motherhood and the worst of motherhood.
Her motherhood has also fortified her determination to propagate body positivity and self-acceptance since she wants to create a lovely world for her son and future generations to live in, free from the constraints of unrealistic beauty standards.
The Impact of Hunter McGrady
Hunter McGrady’s influence extends well beyond the world of fashion. Some of the ways that she is making her mark are:
Redefining Beauty Standards
By challenging traditional notions of beauty and celebrating individuality, McGrady has redefined beauty. Her visibility in top fashion campaigns and covers has inspired dozens to celebrate their unique beauty and refuse conformity pressure from society.
Building Confidence
With her life experience and activism, McGrady has encouraged people all around the world to get braver with who they are. Her message of acceptance is heard as well as appreciated by men and women and boys and girls across all sectors of society, ages, and genders.
Advancing Industry Development
McGrady’s achievements have encouraged the fashion industry overall to be diversified and inclusive. She had influenced businesses to become size-inclusive, employ a more diverse collection of models, and create attire that would cater to all physique types.
Creating a Supportive Community
Through her social media platforms and public image, McGrady has been able to create a positive online community of like-minded individuals who share her visions of inclusivity and self-acceptance. The community inspires and encourages members.
What Makes Hunter McGrady Stand Out?
Hunter McGrady’s authenticity, tenacity, and obstinacy when it comes to standing up for her values make her stand out from people in the world of fashion and life in general. Some of the traits that make her stand out as totally one-of-a-kind are:
- Authenticity: McGrady’s openness about personal struggles and victories has won hearts and made a role model out of her.
- Bravery: She has never been afraid to go against tradition and battle for reform, even if it means telling it like it is when faced with criticism.
- Flexibility: As a model, author, and activist, McGrady has proved herself able to accomplish an incredible amount of diverse tasks.
- Compassion: Her finely developed sense of compassion for others and the need to do well are reflected in everything that she does.
The Future of Hunter McGrady
As Hunter McGrady continues to develop and grow, her influence will only go up. Some of the potential future pursuits are:
- Growing her advocacy work to new populations.
- Launching her own lifestyle or fashion brand.
- Authoring more books or producing content that empowers and inspires.
- Breaking down more walls in fashion and in life.
- Creating her own fashion house or clothing line.
To anyone who ever needs reminding or needs to be reminded, that beauty is in no shape, no size, Hunter McGrady is someone to hold onto—and someone not to be overlooked.
