By Patricia Negrõn

There seems to be some confusion regarding the “plus-size” label of models in Sports Illustrated’s latest Swimsuit Edition. While the fashion industry understandably has very high beauty standards, it may be time for it to expand its standards to include people of all shapes and sizes, without a different classification for those we call ‘plus-size’ models.

Initially, the model accredited for breaking plus-size barriers in this year’s Swimsuit Edition was Ashley Graham, a size-16 model who is featured in a paid advertisement, but is not featured in the magazine herself, according to USA Today. But Robyn Lawley is the plus-size model who is actually featured in the issue — and she is undeniably beautiful.

Lawley, who is a size 12, is a curvy model, but should she be called plus-size when, according to Time, the average American woman is a size 14? The model herself shies away from the term, her exact words being “I just consider myself a model because I’m trying to help women in general accept their bodies,” according to Time.

While it’s great that Sports Illustrated chose Lawley as the “SI Swimsuit 2015 Rookie No. 6,” is it really that amazing? Even in conventional terms she is beautiful, with her curves being present, but clearly looking more toned and athletic than plus-size.

Actress Marilyn Monroe could be considered the ultimate sexual embodiment of a woman, with her hourglass body, and I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of her legitimately referred to as plus-size. According to the Huffington Post, her dress size fluctuated between a size 8 and a size 10, but considering Monroe was only 5-foot-5 and Lawley is 6-foot-2, shouldn’t we call Lawley ‘voluptuous’ instead of ‘plus-size’?

Sure, Lawley has a curvier body shape than a lot of models — but is it really okay to call her plus-size if she wears a dress size that is smaller than the average American woman? Sports Illustrated should be congratulated for not even mentioning her size in the feature. They didn’t try to say that she is beautiful despite her weight, but rather that she is beautiful, period.

Ashley Graham’s participation, while technically in a paid ad in Sports Illustrated, is also very important. At a size 16, she is definitely ‘curvier’ than Lawley, and has also gained her fair share of lustful comments online.

Though their participation in the Swimsuit Edition could be dissected further, it seems to be irrelevant if these beautiful ladies should be called plus-size or not. They are breaking through previous fashion barriers, all while their presence is generating a conversation that many would benefit from. The truth is that girls and women need more models and celebrities they can identify with — more diverse women because we’re not all the same, and that’s the real beauty of this world.

It’s clear that different body types are necessary in the same way that different races and ethnicities are necessary. After all, they don’t call non-white models ‘exotic,’ nor do they have another section for people with different heritages, so why should we lump so many women with different bodies under the term ‘plus-size’?

We need more body diversity in the media. Sports Illustrated definitely made the right choice by not bringing Robyn Lawley’s weight into the article. While the conversation around body acceptance is really important, it seems that not making a big deal about SI’s ‘plus-size’ decision is exactly what we need for different body shapes to become normally associated with beauty as well.