Since 1964, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has been an iconic symbol of all things American, buxom, and young. For decades, readers would be hard-pressed to find a scantily-clad model within its pages that was over the legal drinking age, but, in recent years, the edition has experienced quite a shift.
Just last year, supermodel/grandmother, Paulina Porizkov became the oldest-ever Sports Illustrated swimsuit model at the ripe old age of 53. In the same year, the magazine organized a runway show which featured a model walking down the runway as she breastfed her newborn. Talk about multi-tasking!
Clearly, the special edition is expanding its horizons by including all types of women and bodies in its issues. Unsurprisingly, their shift in aesthetic has caught the attention of would-be Sports Illustrated swimsuit models the world over.
Take Jodi Harrison-Bauer, for instance. This ripped, strong, and gorgeous woman has her eyes set on appearing in the 2020 issue. What sets her apart from the rest, though, is that she will be 59-years-old by the time she would appear in the magazine. Now, if you are any good at math, that means that Jodi would be a full 6 years older than Porzikov, the aforementioned granny who holds the current title!
A little background on Jodi: she’s a gym owner hailing from Branford, CT who–believe it or not–didn’t try her hand in the fitness world until she hit her 40s! Since then, she has dived headfirst, becoming an Instagram fitness guru, weight loss mentor, and, most importantly, winner of several international fitness competitions.
Her body is clearly amazing, but her mission isn’t just to show it off– she wants to be in this world-famous issue because she is born to inspire! In her audition video for Sports Illustrated, Jodi professes her battle cry: “I want to be in the Swimsuit Issue at 59 because no woman should ever be boxed in.”
Mic. Drop.
You go, girl! We, too, agree that women should never be boxed in by societal prejudices. She’s an example of someone who has worked extremely hard to flaunt the body she has today.
Jodi is not only inspirational, but she’s also made a life for herself that is authentic and her own! It looks like she’s found her calling in the fitness world, and we think it’s so great that she can share her message with so many women– young and old alike!
Now that you know all about Jodi’s unique mission, it’s time for you to see her in action. To watch Jodi’s jaw-dropping audition video for Sports Illustrated Swim 2020, be sure to click on the video below. We’re rooting for you, Jodi!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on Jodi Harrison-Bauer’s dream of becoming a Sports Illustrated model at 59. Do you think she has what it takes to be in the magazine? Do you like the magazine’s new message of inclusivity? Who’s your all-time favorite Sports Illustrated model?