29-year-old Veronica Pome’e’s dream came true when she became the first Polynesian swimsuit model to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

The contest started with over 10,000 entries, which were then narrowed down to six finalists, and those women included Pome’e. She had joked about becoming the first Polynesian in Sports Illustrated in an Instagram post from 2017. “It didn’t occur to me that in 2019, I would actually be saying I am. It’s surreal.”

Pome’e started her modeling career as a community organizer, putting together fashion shows to feed the homeless. But it took off quickly. “I was walking in a show and a designer was in the crowd and she found me afterwards,” she explains. “She asked if I could walk for her during LA fashion week.”

Pome’e says Pacific Islander women have always been strong and she’s proud to be a plus-sized model. “We physically take up space, as well as having our presence felt,” she says. “For so long we’ve been conditioned to idolize Eurocentric beauty standards and that has caused us to compare ourselves in ways that wouldn’t apply to our ancestors.”

Pome’e believes that self-love comes from understanding your roots. She says being body positive is about reclaiming her power as a woman and embracing the changes her body goes through.

“It’s a beautiful experience when we embrace it instead of shame it,” she says. “We are not here to satisfy the male gaze. We have to get outside of the idea that women who celebrate themselves in this way are depicted to be less modest.”

With this platform, Pome’e hopes to raise awareness about climate change, as she has always advocated for social and political issues that impact the younger generation.

“When I learned about climate change in the South Pacific, it was heavy on the heart,” she explains. “Things always hit different when it directly impacts the home of your families. As an American born Tongan, it’s important for me to use my voice and my platform to raise awareness.”

For more information: Instagram: @veronicapomee, Twitter: @vpomee