Over 1.1 million women give birth via caesarean every year, so it’s about time we see a mom show off her scar with pride. Say hello to Kelly Hughes, the first woman in SI Swimsuit history to be photographed showing her C-section war wound!
The celebration of moms is part of SI Swimsuits new initiative, Pay with Change. The platform’s purpose is to celebrate brands and companies who are making change for women. This year’s first official partner is Frida Mom, purveyor of mom and baby essentials, and yes––the famed nose sucker.
Chelsea Hirschhorn, CEO and founder of Frida, shares “Joining Sports Illustrated as its first official Pay With Change brand partner is a perfect fit for Frida because they have a valuable platform to disrupt the traditional narrative around womens’ bodies – especially those they feature who are mothers.”
As partners, SI Swimsuit and Frida Mom will work together on content that seeks to update the narrative around the changes female bodies go through as they transition into motherhood and postpartum recovery.
Ok, so back to rockstar, mom and cover model Kelly Hughes. The 42-year-old is mom to a three-year-old son and admits that mentally dealing with her scar hasn’t always been easy. In an Instagram post, she shared, “I am speechless and so honored to be in @si_swimsuit 2022 as the FIRST woman to expose her c-section scar in magazines history!… I struggled with insecurities from my scar being that I’m a model and my incredibly difficult recovery but it wasn’t until I ’embraced my scar that I experienced the true power in it ‘ 💕”
With C-section births accounting for over 30% of all births in the United States every year, it’s time the conversation changed so all moms can feel prepared, especially emotionally, for cesareans if that’s the route they take. And anyone who’s experienced one will tell you that a C-section doesn’t mean they “missed out on childbirth” or necessarily skipped labor.
In the words of SI Swimsuit, “Let’s give some love to all our moms out there to acknowledge the power of the female body and the beauty of motherhood! 🤍”
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