Women’s Running Magazine Shows That Runners Come In Different Shapes & Sizes With Newest Cover Girl

Nadia Aboulhosn/Instagram

If you think runners are all skinny men and women with toned legs, think again.

Women’s Running magazine redefines what a “runner’s body” looks like with their latest cover girl, Nadia Aboulhosn. The full-figured fashion designer runs three or four times per week and was chosen as the cover girl after the magazine’s team met her for an unrelated feature on fitness/fashion influencers.

Editor-in-chief Jessica Sebor wrote, “You don’t need to be an Olympic marathon runner to get the physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of staying fit and healthy.”

While we’re all thrilled to see someone who looks like someone you’d see on the street every day on the cover, no one is more thrilled than Nadia herself. She shared her cover on Instagram, telling her followers about the first time she saw the pic.

“Brb I’m crying ugly tears,” the photo is captioned. “I shot a few months ago with @womensrunningmagazine for their April 2016 issue that’s out on stands now. I was in the airport last night flying from Florida back to LA and went in the store, saw it, and started crying. This elderly couple next to me was like…whats wrong? I’m like THIS IS MY FIRST MAGAZINE COVER AFTER WORKING NON STOP FOR 5 YEARS! I’m glad no one was around to see it Bc snot was every where, I was sweating. 😂 I know I joke a lot so let me be serious and say thank you to Women’s Running Mag for choosing me. When I got the email I still didn’t believe it was going to happen. I for sure thought last minute something was going to happen and I wouldn’t be on the cover just solely off the fact that things have turned wrong for me so much of my life when I’m almost about to have something, I get disappointed or let down. I’m never satisfied and feel like I could always be doing more but seeing my cover made me calm down and enjoy this moment that’s such a milestone for me and my career.”

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Brb I'm crying ugly tears. I shot a few months ago with @womensrunningmagazine for their April 2016 issue that's out on stands now. I was in the airport last night flying from Florida back to LA and went in the store, saw it, and started crying. This elderly couple next to me was like…whats wrong? I'm like THIS IS MY FIRST MAGAZINE COVER AFTER WORKING NON STOP FOR 5 YEARS! I'm glad no one was around to see it Bc snot was every where, I was sweating. 😂 I know I joke a lot so let me be serious and say thank you to Women's Running Mag for choosing me. When I got the email I still didn't believe it was going to happen. I for sure thought last minute something was going to happen and I wouldn't be on the cover just solely off the fact that things have turned wrong for me so much of my life when I'm almost about to have something, I get disappointed or let down. I'm never satisfied and feel like I could always be doing more but seeing my cover made me calm down and enjoy this moment that's such a milestone for me and my career. Thank you especially to Jessica Sebor. You amaze me. It's so important to feel good about yourself. I'll be taking over @womensrunningmagazine's Instagram account tomorrow so be sure to follow and be sure to get the mag and read my story inside! Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this, the entire team at Womens Running, also to my family and close circle who keep me aligned. Thank you to all of you because you contribute so much to my success. Wearing @adidasoriginals outfit in this shot with @nike roshe runs. 🙏🏽

A post shared by Nadia Aboulhosn (@nadiaaboulhosn) on Mar 14, 2016 at 10:05am PDT

“It’s because society sees fit people as being smaller…People don’t think my body type is healthy,” Nadia told Buzzfeed.

This isn’t the first time Women’s Running has featured a “plus-size” model for their cover. Last summer, the stunning size-18 Erica Schenk made waves with her pictures.

Check out more gorgeous photos of Nadia Aboulhosn below.

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