And for today’s sad but true post, we’re reporting on an 18-year-old woman named Erica Schenk who just made history.
Of course you’re wondering: how?! Well, Schenk, believe it or not, is the first “plus-size” woman to land the cover of a fitness magazine. (Now you know why we said sad but true!). Schenk is featured on Women’s Running magazine’s August issue, which as it turns out, was a huge surprise. “I had no idea I was going to be on the cover! I was told afterwards [after her photo shoot] that I would be on the cover,” she said.
Schenk, who is signed with Wilhelmina Models, was shot by James Farrell in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. What’s particularly nice about this shoot is that Schenk is wearing REAL running gear. She’s not covered up, or dressed head to toe in black. Instead she’s sporting shorts, tank tops and capris in bold and fun colors. “The photoshoot was fabulous,” says Schenk. “James Farrell [the photographer] made sure I was comfortable and relaxed. The whole crew really put the effort in and we got an amazing product.”
Editor-in-chief Jessica Sebor told TODAY that the spread and the cover were to show people that runners and now, clothes for runners, aren’t one size fits all. “There’s a stereotype that all runners are skinny, and that’s just not the case,” Sebor said. “Runners come in all shapes and sizes. You can go any race finish line, from a 5K to a marathon, and see that. It was important for us to celebrate that.
Amen to that.
