• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • Join the riot newsletter
  • Wishlist
RunwayRiot
fashion for all women


  • Shop
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Editor’s Closet
    • Our Obsessions!
    • Gift Ideas
  • About Runway Riot
  • Fitness
  • News
  • Beauty/Fashion
  • Designers
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
Wish
list
  • Shop
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Editor’s Closet
    • Designers
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Obsessions!
    • Guilty Pleasures
  • Beauty/Fashion
  • Fitness
  • Self-care
  • Current Obsessions
  • The Latest
  • This Serena Williams Sports Illustrated Cover Is the Smartest One Yet
I’m Ecstatic to See Short-Haired Precious Lee’s Unapologetically Black and Beautiful Ad in Sports Illustrated
by Lindsay Peoples | February 26, 2016 at 3:22 PM
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Sports Illustrated is obviously our favorite magazine that encourages body diversity, from their weird descriptions of Ashley Graham on the cover to having to see Ashley explain why she prefers not to be called plus-size on The Ellen Show. But as a fashion media lover and obsessive magazine reader, I realized it was not a normal day when I saw model Precious Lee gloriously being unapologetically black and beautiful only a couple pages inside the new issue.

Let’s not get all excited because for one thing, it’s not an editorial, it’s a paid advertisement from Lane Bryant. In a perfect world it would be a six-page spread. Everyone’s ideals of beauty and what’s desirable are already pretty messed up, especially in the media–but specifically in black culture, it’s no secret that there is still the false notion that fair-skinned black women are more beautiful. Usually when we see them, they have longer hair, and in general, they’re more desired. We’ve seen it in music videos where the darker skinned girl is dancing in the back of the club but the light-skinned girl is always the one who gets to go home with the guy, or in movies when the darker skinned girl is always the best friend but the protagonist is, more often than not, light-skinned and gets all the glory. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had conversations with friends over the years, wondering if someone would be into them because they were darker than anyone that person had ever dated before. Colorism has caused a lot of pain and division for decades and is still does to this day.

So to see Precious, uncovered and flaunting her banging body, with short hair and chocolate skin that they didn’t retouch to make her lighter makes me extremely happy. And she isn’t covered up in frumpy bikini, but a form-fitting one that shows off her figure. It’s also important that it’s a white set bikini instead of black or nude one, which tends to be the color curvy models are dressed in to make them subtly appear slimmer.

In her recent interview with Parade she said, “To be three pages in a size 14 bikini, I think, is very inspirational to people who always thought that to be able to do things, you had to be a certain size. It is definitely something I feel that people can relate to. It just shows that beauty standards can change and we are redefining beauty slowly but surely.”

Precious Lee, killing the swimwear game.

Precious Lee, killing the swimwear game.

Tags: precious lee
About the Author

Lindsay Peoples

Connect with me:
  • My website
I Want That!
kate spade new york
You're A Rare Bird Birdhouse Tote
Gimme! + Wishlist
$398.00
Nadri
Venus Shooting Star Ring
Gimme! + Wishlist
$80.00
GISOU BY NEGIN MIRSALEHI
Honey Infused Hair Oil
You Know You Want Me! + Wishlist
$99.23
Miu Miu
52mm Cat Eye Sunglasses
You Know You Want Me! + Wishlist
$570.00
Rodial
Bee Venom Cleansing Balm
Buy Me + Wishlist
$59.00
FOREVER21
Banded Wool Fedora
Shop now + Wishlist
$22.90
BaubleBar (US)
Elizabella Tassel Danglers
You Know You Want Me! + Wishlist
$36.00
Clarins
Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil
Buy Me + Wishlist
$26.00
Lush
Lace-Up Sweater
Gimme! + Wishlist
$55.00
Topshop
Ella Floral Off the Shoulder Maternity Top
Gimme! + Wishlist
$68.00
Michael Kors
Small Yasmeen Metallic Genuine Snakeskin Clutch
You Know You Want Me! + Wishlist
$990.00
Too Faced
Sweet Peach Palette
You Know You Want Me! + Wishlist
$49.00
19 Female Professional Athletes Who Are Changing The Way We Look At Fashion
November 7, 2017 at 3:12 PM
11 Body Confident Trends for Transitional Wear
November 7, 2017 at 3:05 PM
The Power of 11: How to Align With Your True Self
February 14, 2017 at 12:50 PM
The Best Single Statement Shirts to Wear this Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2017 at 8:33 AM
Couples That Workout Together Stay Together
February 14, 2017 at 2:39 AM
RunwayRiot
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
Sitemap
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • All Stories
Join the riot
© 2022 RunwayRiot, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
  • FAQ
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Design
  1. Mediaite
  2. The Mary Sue
  3. RunwayRiot
  4. LawNewz
  5. Gossip Cop