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Former model Cheryl Tiegs blasts Sports Illustrated full-figured swimsuit cover

By Shawn Price
Cheryl Tiegs arrives at the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Barbra Streisand in 2011. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
1 of 4 | Cheryl Tiegs arrives at the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Barbra Streisand in 2011. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Former model Cheryl Tiegs blasted the new swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated because she thinks cover model Ashley Graham's full figure is not healthy.

The magazine's annual swimsuit issue took a different approach this year, using three different models -- fighter Rhonda Rousey, model Hailey Clauson and Graham -- as an attempt to empower women and show there is no single beautiful body type.

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But SI swimsuit veteran of the 1970s and 1980s Tiegs told E! News on Wednesday that putting Graham on the cover was promoting unhealthy living.

"I don't like that we're talking about full-figured women because it's glamorizing them because your waist should be smaller than 35" inches, Tiegs said at the 13th annual Global Green USA Pre-Oscar Party. "That's what Dr. Oz said, and I'm sticking to it. I don't think it's healthy. Her face is beautiful. Beautiful. But I don't think it's healthy in the long run."

Graham was new to the cover this year and represents a changing view of women's beauty in American culture.

"I've got plenty of friends [of all sizes] and different shapes and everything," Graham said. "And I don't want any of them to feel like they aren't 'real women.'"

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Graham posted her cover to Instagram last week with the caption: "Truly speechless!!! This cover is for every woman who felt like she wasn't beautiful enough because of her size. You can do and achieve anything you put your mind to. Thank you so much to the entire @si_swimsuit team! I'm so excited to be a part of your family. I love you all!!!"

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