Tiegs has been on the cover multiple times, and she turned her international superstardom into a platform for promoting healthy living. According to Tiegs, deigning to put Graham on the cover promotes an unhealthy lifestyle. Far from just being body positive, Tiegs believes the cover pic celebrates dangerous lifestyle habits.
And Tiegs was not afraid to get specific. In an interview with E! News, the former cover girl said: "I don't like that we're talking about full-figured women because it's glamorizing them because your waist should be smaller than 35 [inches]. That's what Dr. Oz said, and I'm sticking to it … I don't think it's healthy … her face is beautiful, but I don’t think it’s healthy in the long run."
All Dr. Oz related quotes aside, Tiegs is speaking for a growing number of exercise gurus and healthy eating coaches who have expressed disquiet about the shift toward chubby chic.
Meanwhile, their opposites praise SI for putting a “real woman” on the cover. And, as far as Graham’s concerned, she’s pleased as punch about how things are going. ET reports Graham as saying: "I'm really excited to know that Sports Illustrated is wanting to include women like us … there is no perfect body, and we shouldn’t be striving for perfection anymore.”
There is no doubt this is a conversation that hinges on specific messaging. No one is saying “fat” versus “thin” or “big” versus “small.” They are saying healthy versus healthy and preferred versus better.
Confused? It’s an interesting tactic, using the same words but placing them in contexts with vastly different meanings.
On one side you have Tiegs looking at Graham and saying beautiful but ultimately unhealthy. Not good. And, on the other, you have Graham saying beautiful but unattainable, ultimately unhealthy. It’s certainly not an argument that’s going away anytime soon, but it could usher in a change in culture and how America sees beauty and health.
As long as you pretend not to notice the other two covers.
Tiegs has been on the cover multiple times, and she turned her international superstardom into a platform for promoting healthy living. According to Tiegs, deigning to put Graham on the cover promotes an unhealthy lifestyle. Far from just being body positive, Tiegs believes the cover pic celebrates dangerous lifestyle habits.
And Tiegs was not afraid to get specific. In an interview with E! News, the former cover girl said: "I don't like that we're talking about full-figured women because it's glamorizing them because your waist should be smaller than 35 [inches]. That's what Dr. Oz said, and I'm sticking to it … I don't think it's healthy … her face is beautiful, but I don’t think it’s healthy in the long run."
All Dr. Oz related quotes aside, Tiegs is speaking for a growing number of exercise gurus and healthy eating coaches who have expressed disquiet about the shift toward chubby chic.
Meanwhile, their opposites praise SI for putting a “real woman” on the cover. And, as far as Graham’s concerned, she’s pleased as punch about how things are going. ET reports Graham as saying: "I'm really excited to know that Sports Illustrated is wanting to include women like us … there is no perfect body, and we shouldn’t be striving for perfection anymore.”
There is no doubt this is a conversation that hinges on specific messaging. No one is saying “fat” versus “thin” or “big” versus “small.” They are saying healthy versus healthy and preferred versus better.
Confused? It’s an interesting tactic, using the same words but placing them in contexts with vastly different meanings.
On one side you have Tiegs looking at Graham and saying beautiful but ultimately unhealthy. Not good. And, on the other, you have Graham saying beautiful but unattainable, ultimately unhealthy. It’s certainly not an argument that’s going away anytime soon, but it could usher in a change in culture and how America sees beauty and health.
As long as you pretend not to notice the other two covers.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
Other news
See all
EPR Editorial Team · 07/14/2026
John Wren Made Nearly $70 Million in 2025. Here Are the PR and Advertising Agencies He Controls
John Wren was paid $69.87 million by Omnicom Group in 2025 — more than triple his 2024 package. Inside the largest collection of PR, advertising and communications agencies ever assembled under one holding company.
EPR Editorial Team · 07/14/2026
The PR Executive Compensation Index 2026
Everything-PR Research: the cumulative public record of executive compensation across the PR, communications, and marketing services industry — compiled exclusively from regulatory filings, with every figure linked to its primary source.
EPR Editorial Team · 07/14/2026
Email Marketing for Fashion & Apparel — The 2026 Playbook
Definitive 2026 fashion email playbook — Shein, Zara, H&M, SKIMS, Aritzia, Nike, lululemon, LVMH, Kering. Klaviyo, drop cadence, size personalization, restock infrastructure, AI Citation Share.
Most brands are invisible inside AI search. Is yours?
EPR publishes the data every week.
Free. Weekly. Unsubscribe anytime.