Meet the 56-year-old bikini-clad model making history as the oldest person to ever appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Model Nicola Griffin is 56, about three to four decades older than the average bikini babe to pose in a swimwear ad. But as part of the brand's new #SwimSexy campaign, which promotes body positivity and is inclusive of all ages, shapes, and sizes, the Baby Boomer is stripping down and holding her own among women half her age. Photos after the cut.

Last year, the swimwear brand Swimsuits for All made history by featuring a plus-size model in its Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue ad — and this year, they're up to their boundary-breaking ways again, spotlighting the oldest woman to ever appear in the issue.

'It’s not all about being 20 and 5'10". We’re bored of that!' she told Daily Mail Online of the campaign, which also features 28-year-old plus-size model Ashley Graham and plus-size British Ghanaian model Philomena Kwao, 26. 'We are all different ages and sizes and that’s the beauty of it. We’re real women.' 

26-year-old British Ghanaian model Philomenia Kwao

Ashley Graham, 28, who starred in the campaign last year, returns for the new ads

She said:

'I was nervous because all the girls I was with were very young,' Nicole admitted. 'I was anxious about what they were going to do with me. And they did put me in a gold bikini! But it was fine, I had no reason to nervous.'

The photographer soon put her at ease, and she, Ashley, and Philomena were like 'a family' on set.

'[Ashley's] body is so beautiful!' she gushed over her co-star. 'She’s got the most beautiful body. And it’s so refreshing to see a natural body in the magazine, she’s a big, healthy, buxom woman. I think it’s about time that we see proper women, models, whatever.'

Plenty of people think it's refreshing to see a woman her age modeling a swimsuit, too — including her daughters, who are feeling pretty proud of their mom.

'My children can’t believe it. They text me and they’re like, "Mom, is it true?" They keep asking me to double check. They both think it’s marvelous though,' she said. 'Their boyfriends are so excited too, which is great. There’s a lot of giggling going on.’