‘Stylists wouldn’t dress me’: Brisbane model Georgina Burke reveals red carpet struggle

Walking a Sports Illustrated red carpet dressed by Ralph Lauren moved Brisbane model Georgina Burke to tears, admitting stylists had often declined to dress her because of her size

After previously struggling to get stylists to dress her for events, Brisbane curve model Georgina Burke has shined during a red carpet tour to launch the 2022 Sports Illustrated Swim issue across the US.

Burke, who was bullied for her size at school in Brisbane before becoming a leading curve model in New York, is one of eight rookie models featured in the coveted swimsuit issue, and attended a number of events and panel discussions from New York to Hollywood last week to celebrate its launch.

Georgina Burke attends the launch of the 2022 Issue and Debut of Pay With Change with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit at Hard Rock Hotel New York on May 19, 2022. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

It was an affirming moment for Burke, a size 14, who says stylists had often declined to dress her for red carpet events in the past because of her size.

“My biggest standout moment was having Lauren by Ralph Lauren dress me head to toe for the main red carpet event in NYC,” Burke told Confidential.

“It was a highlight of my career to have the biggest US brand rally around me and put their resources into dressing me for the events. I cried happy tears when I was shown my outfits because it’s been such a battle to be dressed for red carpet events at my size.”

Georgina Burke attends as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit celebrates the launch of the 2022 Issue and Debut of Pay With Change at Hard Rock Seminole on May 21, 2022 in Hollywood, Florida. Photo: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

“I wanted to show the world, and maybe a few stylists who said no to dressing me, that it is possible to dress in high fashion when you are over a certain size. I wanted to highlight that throughout the tour as I am the same size as the average woman. We want and deserve to have beautiful fashion options for special events.”

Burke said sharing the stage with people like Maye Musk, the 73-year-old model and mother of Elon Musk who features on the cover, had been a “dream come true”.

Maye Musk, Christen Harper, Hailey Clauson, and Georgina Burke attend the Swimsuit on Location event hosted by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit at Hard Rock Seminole on May 21, 2022 in Hollywood, Florida. Photo: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

“I really enjoy being in group discussions on panels with all the other SI models and having the chance to speak on topics close to my heart such as mental health and having a healthy relationship with yourself,” she said. “To meet people face-to-face and talk through their battles career wise or body wise is an experience I wish I had when I first started modelling.”

“All of us coming together to support each other personally and professionally. It was incredibly empowering.”