Plus-Sized Model Makes First Ever Appearance On Cover Of Fitness Magazine 'Women's Running'

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- It's the first time in history that a plus sized model has made the cover of a fitness or running magazine.

The six page photo spread in 'Women's Running' shows 18-year-old Erica Schenk in fitness clothes, surrounded by inspirational quotes about loving the skin you're in.

The cover sparked a huge reaction on social media, inciting the biggest response the magazine has ever had.

Emma Bazilian with Ad Week told CB2's Emily Smith that advertisers chose the plus sized model as part of a macro trend toward acceptance.

"They definitely knew it would make a big splash, especially for a smaller magazine. They can take all the publicity they can get and this is going to be really positive publicly," she said.

While it's the first fitness focused magazine to do so, it isn't the only magazine. Sports Illustrated added a plus sized model to its Swimsuit Issue for the first time this year.

"That was a huge deal, the first time we have seen a plus sized model in that magazine which is known for perfect stereotypical bodies," Bazilian said.

At first Women's Running asked the model to do an apparel feature inside the magazine, but the editor in chief said once the shoot wrapped they found Schenk to be cover material. She's someone who has been running since childhood and currently runs in Central Park frequently.

"Especially in the fitness world, people don't equate plus sized with fitness even though we all know you can be plus and in amazing shape. It's something I think people are starting to realize, and readers are saying I want to see people like me on the covers," Bazilian said.

CBS2's Smith spoke with Jessica Sever, the VP of Women's Running, who said the response has been overwhelming and has made it clear they should have put Erica on the cover years ago.

The plus sized cover appears on the August edition of Women's Running magazine.