Lauren Chan is "much more comfortable" since coming out.
The 34-year-old model came out as a lesbian in a 2023 article for Sports Illustrated and admits that no longer being in the "male gaze" has lifted a weight from her shoulders.
Lauren told People magazine: "I'm so much more comfortable in myself. In coming out, I've ditched the male gaze, and it is incredibly freeing because I used to perceive myself in the way that the patriarchy wants us to consider women. If I had a part of my body that made me insecure based on the beauty ideal, it would ruin my entire sense of self.
"Since being in the female gaze, I've realised that that doesn't exist. I fully believe that the way I show up to represent women does not always have to be flattering. Some of my favourite work is about making the body look relaxed or bigger. It's healing in a lot of ways. Bigger bodies are artful too."
Lauren - who founded the plus-size clothing brand Henning - appeared in the famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue earlier this year and is delighted that the publication gave her the opportunity to silence cruel trolls.
She said: "Women are everything to me, literally.
"This year, for Sports Illustrated, I got to write an essay for the print edition called 'For The Girls'. The essay is about the fact that I am not asking for permission to take up space. I'm taking it.
"The essay and cover both came about after a man trolled me on my Instagram when Sports Illustrated Swimsuit announced my return to the issue with a picture.
"The person said, 'Who are we even doing this for? Women? This doesn't make any sense.' I'm so glad that happened. I love my trolls because they give me an opportunity to educate, so bring it on."
Lauren is set to marry her partner, film director Hayley Kosan, later this year and revealed that she entered her "bridal era" after her Sports Illustrated cover appearance gave her wedding "vibes".
She said: "Engaged life is great. My (swimsuit photoshoot) looks are giving bridal (vibes). There was tulle, there was beading, there were pearls.
"I'm very much in my bridal era, and I'm really excited about that. It's been really comforting and celebratory. I'm not at all ashamed of choosing a new path for myself. I feel really calm and comforted."
