Ashley Graham Feud Update: Cheryl Tiegs Issues Official Apology To Sports Illustrated Model

Former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Cheryl Tiegs insulted Ashley Graham, who graces one of the three covers of the SI 2016 Swimsuit edition, when she insinuated to E! Online Feb. 25 that although pretty, Graham was unhealthy. Tiegs has since issued a mea culpa to Graham and tried to clear up her original statement.

“Please accept my deepest apology if you were offended or in any way think I was referring to you,” she wrote to Graham, 28, in an open letter on Huffington Post Friday. “I commend you on the positive influence you have on helping women to love themselves."

This time, possibly more eloquently, Tiegs, 68, elaborated that her main concern is women’s health. "I was not equating beauty to weight or size, but unfortunately that is what the media reported in headlines. I was trying to express my concern over media images and the lack of education in America about healthy choices, thus the reference to the 35-inch waist as a guideline to health. I did hear that on Dr. Oz, but it's also stated on websites such as the Centers For Disease Control, Harvard University and the American Diabetes Association,” she wrote. The kicker of everything is that Tiegs added she has a 37-inch waist.

Graham has not yet responded to Tiegs’ new response. But she did say that she “rolled her eyes” when she heard Tiegs’ original statement, she told E! Online Wednesday.

The model, who previously walked the runway for Lane Bryant, stunned at the Vanity Fair Oscars party last Synday, where she wore a specially made gown by Bao Tranchi. She’s also apparently coined a new term, “Beauty beyond size.” She frequently uses it on Twitte and Instagram.

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