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Kelly Hughes is the first SI Swim model to bare her C-section scar

Kelly Hughes made history with her inclusion in the 2022 issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit as the first to model with a visible C-section scar.

Now, she is reflecting on how the images seen across the world have not only empowered readers, but also herself.

“To be honest, I had no idea how much this would impact people. But my photo went viral all over the world. This is something I probably wouldn’t have done before, but I also didn’t see myself in the same way I see myself now,” Hughes told Fox News digital.

“I think it’s beautiful that a magazine like Sports Illustrated is showing a woman with a C-section and saying, ‘She’s beautiful.’ Now, I realize how important that photo is to me because I had no idea how underrepresented this was.”

The model explained that she has long been insecure about the scar and even planned to avoid having a cesarean birth so that she wouldn’t have to deal with having the mark on her abdomen.

“I had never shown my scar before. And I have been really open with how I struggled with insecurities around my scar. I originally didn’t want a C-section because the bounce back was going to be much harder being that I’m a model,” she said, noting that there’s already a lot to worry about when it comes to embracing a postpartum body.

“Society just puts so much pressure on you to ‘bounce back.’ I wasn’t a size 2 anymore. I wasn’t doing too much modeling in a bikini in the first place. So it was scary at first to show my biggest insecurity in a magazine like Sports Illustrated. I wasn’t sure how I was going to be received.”

Kelly Hughes is a model, jewelry maker, business owner, and mom hailing from Miami, FL. Hughes is represented by Next Model Management and has been modeling for over 20 years.

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In 2009, she began creating bracelets by hand and through word-of-mouth built a successful unisex jewelry line that is sold in high end boutiques and hotels. In 2018, Hughes became pregnant with her son.

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Kelly Hughes
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