Yumi Nu’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover, Jordan Peterson comments spark body acceptance conversation
While many celebrated the diverse range of models featured on Sports Illustrated’s recent swimsuit issue, online criticism of the plus-sized model Yumi Nu’s appearance sparked a conversation around body acceptance.
In a now-deleted tweet, Canadian psychology professor Jordan Peterson commented on Nu’s cover photo saying, “Sorry. Not beautiful. And no amount of authoritarian tolerance is going to change that.”
Peterson faced instant backlash over his comments from fans supporting the model, particularly body acceptance advocates.
Roxy Earle, reality television star and founder of the women’s health app Ana, is calling out Peterson’s comment and said it’s dangerous to spread these comments to his mass following.
“There's a lot of men who follow him, a lot of vulnerable young men. What are we saying to those men, and what dangers are we putting to a woman's life when we are empowering a whole group of men to hate on a woman because of her body?” Earle told CTVNews.ca in an interview on Tuesday.
Earle posted on her own Instagram to address the controversial professor directly and to praise the cover for being “powerful.”
“I think seeing a beautiful, curvaceous woman on the cover of Sports Illustrated, illustrates where we are at when it comes to beauty,” Earle said.
While the cover has been praised for its inclusivity, there is still much work to be done to break down beauty standards, said Aisha Fairclough, co-founder of the body advocacy group, Body Confidence Canada.
“We are getting better, but there needs to be more diverse images, like people with disabilities and different genders and different skin tones,” she told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Tuesday.
Fairclough says “body positivity” is often associated with the idea of constantly being happy about one’s appearance and only focuses on size. However, body acceptance advocates for all physical appearances in all aspects of life including feeling safe, comfortable and represented.
“In order for somebody to feel safe and comfortable in their body, they have to be able to have rights like access to housing and food,” she said.
The magazine’s issue also featured Elon Musk’s 74-year old mother Maye Musk, who became the oldest person to grace the cover.
Fairclough said having this diverse representation is an integral part of the body acceptance movement.
“There has been a change for the Sports Illustrated model you might have seen 10,15 years ago, so to have someone that is visibly plus, to have someone that is Asian or to have someone that is older is very important.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They couldn't breathe': Survivor shares details inside migrant trailer
Simple advice from a friend to stay near the door may have saved Yenifer Yulisa Cardona Tomás from the deadly fate that befell 53 other migrants when they were abandoned trapped in a sweltering semi-trailer last week on the edge of San Antonio. The 20-year-old from Guatemala's capital said it was already hot on June 27 when she stepped out of the warehouse on the Texas side of the Mexico border where she had been waiting and climbed into the back of the trailer.

'Freedom Convoy' organizer Tamara Lich set to have bail hearing
Tamara Lich, an organizer of the 'Freedom Convoy,' is set to appear in an Ottawa court today for a bail hearing after being arrested last week for allegedly breaching one of her bail conditions.
Daughter of Toronto Blue Jays coach killed in 'terrible accident' while tubing in U.S.
The 17-year-old daughter of the Toronto Blue Jays' first base coach died in a 'terrible accident' while tubing in the U.S. this weekend.
Canadian officials denied access to trial of Chinese-Canadian billionaire, embassy says
Chinese authorities have blocked Canadian government representatives from attending the trial of Chinese-Canadian billionaire Xiao Jianhua, the Canadian embassy said on Tuesday.
Former Sask. premier Brad Wall gave strategic advice to key convoy organizer
Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall was in contact with a key organizer of the Freedom Convoy anti-mandate protest, providing strategic advice before and after the Ottawa occupation began, according to court records obtained by CTV News.
'It's the real deal': Doctors warn about future wave fuelled by Omicron variants
COVID-19 cases are rising again in Canada, with the two fast-spreading Omicron sub-variants known as BA.4 and BA.5 to blame. CTVNews.ca has a guide to what you need to know about the new variants.
Saanich, B.C. bank shooter was rejected by military, CAF says
One of the twin brothers who was killed in a shootout with police outside a bank in Saanich, B.C., last week had applied to join the Canadian Armed Forces but was rejected, a military spokesperson confirmed Monday.
Police find person of interest in deadly shooting at Chicago-area parade
Highland Park's police chief said the 22-year-old man identified as a person of interest in the shooting that killed at least six people, wounded at least 30 and sent hundreds of people fleeing from an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago on Monday has been taken into custody.
U.S. man to be charged with kidnapping, rape after Edmonton teen found: Oregon police
A 41-year-old man will be charged with kidnapping and rape after an Edmonton girl who was missing for more than a week was found, Oregon City Police said.