Sports Illustrated runway show features breastfeeding mum and amputee model

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This year’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit show featured a bikini model with a difference - a new mum who breastfed her baby daughter as she walked down the runway.

Mara Martin, mum to five-month-old Aria, was one of 16 finalists chosen to model swimwear during the annual Miami Swim Week show.

Dressed in a gold bikini, the mum, from Monroe, Michigan, showed off her swimsuit as she breastfed Aria - who came prepared for the show in a pair of blue headphones to block out the loud crowds and music.

Prior to the show, Martin expressed her excitement and gratitude over the casting, sharing a photo of baby Aria grinning on Instagram, where she wrote: “The face you make when your mum makes it to the final 16 of the Sports Illustrated Swim Search!! I’m so so so thankful for the entire team at Sports Illustrated for picking me!”

Martin’s walk was praised on social media, with people calling the model’s decision to breastfeed her daughter “inspiring.”

“Great job representing all of us nursing mums! You will get a lot of pushback but I hope you realise how powerful and amazing you are!” one person wrote.

Another said: “This was so powerful! Way to be brave and represent us all!”

Paralympic gold medal snowboarder and Sports Illustrated model Brenna Huckaby also walked in the show - leading the final walk down the runway.

This wasn’t Huckaby’s first time modelling for the brand - the 22-year-old was the first Paralympian to be featured in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, ahead of the competition in Pyeongchang, South Korea earlier this year.

In addition to gracing the magazine, the snowboarder has won the title of three-time world champion - despite losing her leg eight years ago after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous tumour of the bone.

On social media, the diversity of Sports Illustrated’s model choices was applauded.

“Love all the beautiful body types!” wrote one person.