The New Women’s Running Cover Star Proves You Don’t Have to Be the ‘Right Size’ to Be A Runner

Sports Illustrated generated a ton of buzz in February by featuring body-positive activist Ashley Graham as one of three cover models on its annual Swimsuit Issue. We’re happy to see the trend of magazines using models of all shapes and sizes continue: The April issue of Women’s Running just hit newsstands, and its cover star is fashion blogger Nadia Aboulhosn.

The curvy fashionista has been featured in Seventeen, in Teen Vogue, and on Refinery29, but this is her first-ever cover model gig.

Motto spoke with Aboulhosn about her appearance on Women’s Running, her exercise routine and why this is a win for all women.

Motto: When did Women’s Running ask you to do the cover? And what went through your head when they approached you?
Aboulhosn: It was probably two months ago when Jessica Sebor, who is the editor-in chief, she contacted me and said, “We want to shoot you for the cover.” I get contacted all the time for various things, but in the back of my head I was like, “There is no way this is a thing.” … It was when I saw the mockup of the actual cover, that was when this felt real.

You work super-hard for so many years with my job. There’s so much behind-the-scenes stuff that people don’t see how hard you’re working, they think the job is easy. But after working for so hard for so many years, now it feels like things are finally falling into place.

Read more: Sportscaster Amber Theoharis: How to Succeed in a Male-Dominated Industry

Motto: Why do you think it’s so important that fitness models of all shapes and sizes be featured in magazines and advertising?
Aboulhosn: I think it’s important because there needs to be diversity—size-wise, ethnicity-wise. One size isn’t really the only right size. There’s so many women so different from everyone. … In my head, I was thinking, “I could be on the cover and change one girl’s perception and make her feel good about running and a healthy lifestyle.” I’m showing that it’s good to be fit. There has to be a shift in this culture about what people think is beautiful.

Motto: Are you a runner?
Aboulhosn: I basically try to run three times a week. I don’t really like the gym—I like weight lifting—but I like to be outside in the outdoors. But I work so much that I literally get a chair and I do back kicks and squats in hotels and stuff.

I try to stay as active as I can. I make a point to stretch in the morning and night, and eat a clean, healthy diet. I think being physically fit is just as important as mentally doing it. … Clearing my mind alone in a room is just as important to me as being physically fit.

Read more: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Star Ashley Graham: Stop Labeling Women ‘Plus-Size’

Motto: A lot of people think of exercise as just a way to get or stay thin. What do you think people miss when they look at exercise that way?
Aboulhosn: Yeah, I mean it’s the same as going on a diet. I’m not going to eat glass for my whole diet just because it’s going to make me look a certain way! I have to physically feel it. I can be at a certain weight and I don’t feel it. … I don’t think it should be a physical thing in the mirror, it should be how you feel inside and how you feel fit.