When Paige Spiranac landed on the pages of the 2018 Sports Illustrated issue, the former professional golfer made it a point of using her platform to share a message of acceptance and encouragement. The pH๏τo shoot brought her to the beaches of Aruba, where she posed for beautiful pH๏τos in front of the lens of pH๏τographer James Macari.

She was excited for the opportunity for a whole host of reasons, but perhaps the biggest was the chance it gave her to share her inspiring take on body positivity.

“This was such a hard secret to keep! But I’m so honored and humbled to be included in #SISwim 2018!” she wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “This issue is about self-love, empowering women, body positivity, and encouraging everyone to be kind. Women face so much pressure every. single. day. to look, act, and talk a certain way, and it is so difficult trying to figure out what you ‘can’ and ‘should’ be. It’s taken a long time, but I’m proud of my body! I’m proud of who I am!”

Her feature was about more than just the pH๏τos. It was about the ability to be undeniably and unapologetically herself and to encourage other women to do likewise.

“SI Swim embraces ALL women, no matter what, and just wants them to feel loved. You should feel loved and powerful and unapologetically YOU! And don’t let ANYONE tell you that you’re not perfect just the way you are,” she continued. “Thank you to @mj_day and the whole team for believing in me and letting me share my story. You’ve changed my outlook on life and let me know it’s okay to love my body.”

Clearly, it was an inspiring trip in more than just one way. Without further ado, here are some of the incredible sH๏τs from the influencer’s time in Aruba.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated