TIMES.KY

Cayman Islands, Caribbeanand International News
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

SI Swim model Natalie Mariduena wants to 'be an example' of 'body normalcy'

SI Swim model Natalie Mariduena wants to 'be an example' of 'body normalcy'

Natalie Mariduena, an SI Swimsuit model who has nearly four million followers on Instagram alone, is hoping to raise awareness on "body normalcy."

The model first made a splash in the pages of the magazine in 2021 and was featured in this year’s issue available at newsstands now.

"In the industry, you see models who are very thin or your see plus-size models, but there isn’t this genre of modeling that’s right in the middle," the Chicago native told Fox News Digital. "I try to champion that for other people. I want to be an example of that and show that it’s cool and it’s beautiful. [On social media] I show my body, I show my life, I show what I represent and what I value with no filter. Whether it’s a bikini image or just an image of me out in the street in a cute outfit, I want to show that the normal body size is valued."

The 25-year-old insisted that she wants to use her platform to show her female followers that one doesn’t need to rely on filters and Photoshop to look beautiful.
"I have so many followers who are young women, very impressionable and looking at me as an example for themselves," she said. "I try to connect with people, whether it's through DMs or the comments section. I’m often told, ‘I have your body type — thank you for showing this.’ These people are showing their appreciation towards me and I want to give that love back. Because I have this platform, I think it’s more important than ever that I provide positivity for women."

Mariduena praised SI Swimsuit for celebrating different body types, as well as women of various ages. For the 2022 issue, Mariduena was photographed in Belize by veteran photographer Yu Tsai."It’s the best feeling in the world as a model to be part of a magazine that accepts and celebrates you for being you," she said. "I remember we ended up shooting around 15 bikinis bright and early that day, out in the jungle. I’m in waterfalls, I’m laying on rocks, I’m hanging on bridges, standing in rivers … [but] it was like a little party. You wouldn’t know it from looking at the photos, but there are like 20-25 people standing behind the camera just hollering, encouraging and motivating you. They’re having a little dance party for you."While this wasn’t Mariduena’s first time appearing in the magazine, her photos this year left her stunned, she insisted."I was in shock," she said. "I saw some of the photos as we were taking them, but to see them in the actual magazine, it’s such a surreal feeling. It’s so strange being this small-town girl from Illinois just having no idea that things like this were a possibility for her. … And being part of ‘Sports Illustrated’ is probably one of the most empowering experiences I’ve ever had. I’m able to celebrate my body. They’re so inclusive and accepting. They do such a great job of including all women and creating such an accepting community that uplifts each other."

Despite her achievements, Mariduena said she doesn’t always wake up feeling like a supermodel. Like anyone else, there are days when she could use a much-needed boost of confidence. And those are the moments when she enjoys disconnecting from social media.

Natalie Mariduena walks for the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show during Paraiso Miami Beach at Mondrian South Beach, July 10, 2021, in Miami, Florida.


"On those days, I do what I love," she said. "I love a good meal. I love visiting my favorite restaurant. I love my healthy food and I love my junk food. I think it’s all about balance. I just like to give a day for myself. It can be something as simple as staying at home and enjoying a good meal or going to the beach. I also love to lean in on my friends. I think it’s important to have a positive, encouraging circle to lean on whenever you’re feeling bad. I know they always snap me right out of it. Being told, ‘You’re doing so well, keep going,’ goes a long way. I’m so lucky to have that support system. I think it’s very important."

Natalie Mariduena said it's important for all bodies to be represented in the fashion industry.


Mariduena has more than 8 million followers on her social media platforms. She’s known for promoting "Do Good" initiatives that focus on sustainability, female empowerment and body positivity. She said they’re essential now more than ever.

"I think cyberbullying is so prominent in social media," she said. "It’s so important to spread positivity and love for other people. Even when someone is doing well, you want to support them and motivate them. Your words, whether you have a large following or just your circle of friends, they matter. Your words affect people. There’s no need for hate and negativity. That’s the message I want to share."

"When I was younger, and I think this is typical for many girls in high school, I always felt that I needed to look a certain way or act a certain way to impress social circles," she continued. "It wasn’t until college that I realized that being different, being outside the norm, is much cooler. I think that’s been the big key to my success. I don’t always follow the trend if it doesn’t feel right to me. I dress however I want, which makes me feel good. I follow my head and my heart. It seems to be working out so far."

Mariduena said her goal is to collaborate with more fashion brands and designers in hopes of having her body type seen by others who can identify with her. She praised how the modeling industry has evolved over the years and is eager to see what else it can do for women.

Natalie Mariduena attends as "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit" celebrates the launch of the 2022 Issue and Debut of Pay With Change at Hard Rock Seminole, May 21, 2022, in Hollywood, Florida.


"I’m a fashion girl at heart," she said. "And I hope women look at me as a source of relatability. I hope when women see me, they can see a part of themselves and feel represented. That’s my goal. I want women to feel that they can do it, too, and their dreams can be a possibility. It was a possibility for me."

Newsletter

Related Articles

TIMES.KY
0:00
0:00
Close
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
Israel: Unprecedented Civil Disobedience Looms as IDF Reservists Protest Judiciary Reform
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
The future of sports
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
Europe is boiling: Extreme Weather Conditions Prevail Across the Continent
The Last Pour: Anchor Brewing, America's Pioneer Craft Brewer, Closes After 127 Years
Democracy not: EU's Digital Commissioner Considers Shutting Down Social Media Platforms Amid Social Unrest
Sarah Silverman and Renowned Authors Lodge Copyright Infringement Case Against OpenAI and Meta
Italian Court's Controversial Ruling on Sexual Harassment Ignites Uproar
Why Do Tech Executives Support Kennedy Jr.?
The New York Times Announces Closure of its Sports Section in Favor of The Athletic
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Hospitalized Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations, Family Confirms
Florida Attorney General requests Meta CEO's testimony on company's platforms' alleged facilitation of illicit activities
The Distorted Mirror of actual approval ratings: Examining the True Threat to Democracy Beyond the Persona of Putin
40,000 child slaves in Congo are forced to work in cobalt mines so we can drive electric cars.
BBC Personalities Rebuke Accusations Amidst Scandal Involving Teen Exploitation
A Swift Disappointment: Why Is Taylor Swift Bypassing Canada on Her Global Tour?
Historic Moment: Edgars Rinkevics, EU's First Openly Gay Head of State, Takes Office as Latvia's President
Bye bye democracy, human rights, freedom: French Cops Can Now Secretly Activate Phone Cameras, Microphones And GPS To Spy On Citizens
The Poor Man With Money, Mark Zuckerberg, Unveils Twitter Replica with Heavy-Handed Censorship: A New Low in Innovation?
Unilever Plummets in a $2.5 Billion Free Fall, to begin with: A Reckoning for Misuse of Corporate Power Against National Interest
Beyond the Blame Game: The Need for Nuanced Perspectives on America's Complex Reality
Twitter Targets Meta: A Tangle of Trade Secrets and Copycat Culture
The Double-Edged Sword of AI: AI is linked to layoffs in industry that created it
US Sanctions on China's Chip Industry Backfire, Prompting Self-Inflicted Blowback
Meta Copy Twitter with New App, Threads
The New French Revolution
BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Application Refiled, Naming Coinbase as ‘Surveillance-Sharing’ Partner
×