Precious Lee Wants to Dispel This Myth About Curvy Models
:upscale()/2016/02/12/996/n/1922564/32003bd3_edit_img_cover_file_40166808_1455314226_image001.jpg)
When Sports Illustrated began embracing different body types in its much-loved Swimsuit Issue, we knew it was only the beginning. Ashley Graham nabbed a spot as the magazine's first "plus-size" rookie. And model Precious Lee is now one of the first size-14 African American women to appear in an ad in the issue.
As part of Lane Bryant's new campaign, This Body, Precious poses in a white bikini next to text that reads, "This body is made to be uncovered." With her arm at her side and one hand on her strap, she locks eyes with the camera — and the results might just give you chills.
"I felt so honored," Precious told us when we spoke to her about the ad. "I feel like it will help inspire people to do things that they didn't think they were able to do, and to see that there are different forms of beauty and actually celebrate it. To be a size-14 girl with short hair and a bikini in Sports illustrated? It's important for me to remember that this is something really special. I'm so proud to be part of it."
No doubt this model is one to watch. Read on for nine reasons you should start following Precious immediately, and then check out another groundbreaking campaign making headlines from Swimsuits For All.
She Cried When She Found Out Her Ad Would Be in the SI Swimsuit Issue
"I didn't really know what was going on until I got on set. They wanted it to be a surprise — I thought I was just shooting a regular campaign! They told me right before I went out and I almost cried. I didn't cry until after because I was just so excited that I was caught off guard."
She’s Always Been Into Fashion
"I've honestly always been into fashion. I followed trends and designers, and [knew] about collections and seasons and stuff. I grew up in a very fashion and beauty type of world because of my family, so I was always into making different looks and I always experimented."
And Has Staples She Buys Over and Over
"I find myself buying the same V-neck quarter-length-sleeve black dresses. I love them so much because I think it's such a classic piece — I dress it up and down, and I can put on heels or a boot and it's still cute. And I love pencil skirts. If a pencil skirt is even slightly cute, I might buy it. It's such a feminine, sexy feel. I can put on a pencil skirt and a baggy shirt and still feel sexy. I love showing off my hourglass situation."
She Hasn't Always Wanted to Be a Model
"My whole plan up until I signed was to be a sports and entertainment attorney. I always loved fashion — I just never thought about actually doing it and going for it. I was obsessed with Naomi Campbell and Linda and Cindy, all of those ‘90s models — I've always looked up to them — but I guess I didn't consider it because they didn’t look like me."
And Her Sister Inspired Her to Pursue It
"My sister was a straight-size model in New York for years. When I was in high school, she told me, 'You should be a plus-size model because my friend's sister is and she makes more money than us.' I never saw plus-size models. They were never really on my radar. Even when I first started, it was always a secondary thing to me, and then at some point, I just got really passionate about it, and it became a part of me.”
She Wants to Dispel This Myth About Curvy Models
"I think that a lot of times people are so used to seeing models that are a size 2 or 0, [they] automatically assume you're not working as much. All of my friends that are plus-size models are so in shape — they work out all the time. Just because we're larger doesn't mean that we're unhealthy."
She's Got an Easy Trick For Nailing the Perfect Selfie
"The last selfie I posted was actually a Snapchat picture. I was going through my story, and I was like, "Oh my God, this picture is so cute.' I realized that the Snapchat camera is so much better than the Instagram one. Seriously, the snapchat camera is amazing. I don’t know what it is that they use, like a smaller range or whatever, but I would say go to Snapchat, take your picture, and save it."
And to Feeling Confident, Too
“It takes consistency to gain confidence, and [you have to] work at it. It’s a daily thing — it’s not something that you just have. Just like you can go from being insecure to confident, you can go from being confident to insecure. So I just think that people need to realize that it’s something that's an interactive relationship with yourself. You have to remain in a positive state, and you have to work on it every day.”
She's a Big Fan of the New Barbie
"The new Barbie is just so amazing! I’m kind of ashamed it took this long, but it’s really important for little girls because they’re so impressionable. It’s important to show them different body types and different heights as well. I remember my mom would search high and low for the black Barbie, but she always made sure that I knew that there were different types of beauty."