Brianna ‘Chickenfry’ LaPaglia is ‘reclaiming herself’ as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover star

Brianna ‘Chickenfry’ LaPaglia is making quite the splash.

On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit announced the Barstool Sports podcast host, 25, as its January 2025 digital cover model.

For the shoot, LaPaglia soaked up the sun at The Austin Estate in California, posing for photographer Katherine Goguen in head-turning swimwear.

Brianna ‘Chickenfry’ LaPaglia stars as the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue digital cover star. Sports Illustrated/Katherine Gogue She revealed that ex Zach Bryan once told her the magazine was too “trashy” for her to be associated with, but believes the photo shoot is a dose of karma. Sports Illustrated/Katherine Gogue

In one image, the content creator is clad in a one-of-a-kind woven bikini from Isa Boulder.

Meanwhile, for another snap, LaPaglia modeled a snakeskin-printed two-piece from Same.

With this cover, the star said she hopes to reclaim her body and voice after her highly public breakup from country singer Zach Bryan.

With this Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, the 25-year-old hopes to reclaim her body and voice, according to her accompanying interview. WWD via Getty Images “It’s a lot more than me looking quote-unquote hot in a swimsuit—it’s me reclaiming who I am as a woman, reclaiming my body and my decisions and my choices,” LaPaglia said about the opportunity. bbriannalapaglia/Instagram

“It’s a lot more than me looking quote-unquote hot in a swimsuit — it’s me reclaiming who I am as a woman, reclaiming my body and my decisions and my choices,” LaPaglia, who has been candid about her weight loss after claiming Bryan emotionally abused her, said about the shoot.

“This cover is me being me again and taking control of my life. This is my body; my body isn’t that experience, and even though I’m not 100% in it right now, this is me,” she added. “This doesn’t have anything to do with anybody else.”

However, there is a bit of karma in the choice; In the interview, the “BFFs” co-host reveals that she was set to host the Sports Illustrated 60th anniversary red carpet, but Bryan told her it was a “trashy” gig.

“[The photo shoot] is just, on a petty level, my favorite f—k you,” she laughed. “This is me, and I wanted to do this, and now I’m on the digital cover.”

LaPaglia went through a public breakup with country star Zach Bryan in the fall. Billboard via Getty Images “I think people do tend to forget I’m just 25,” she said in the interview, referencing how people are coming to her for advice. briannalapaglia/Instagram

Sports Illustrated Swimwear shared the news on its Instagram page this morning, and fans quickly flocked to the comment section to show their support for LaPaglia.

“SHE IS THE MOMENT!! This is everything 😍😍” one user gushed.

Another added, “Yes. Yes. A million times yes. So proud of her!”

LaPaglia spoke about the split and how others trying to leave relationships started coming to her for advice.

“I think people do tend to forget I’m just 25,” she noted. “It’s really overwhelming to feel the pressure of being a role model on top of everything in my life being very public, because at the end of the day, I’m still just a girl trying to figure her life out.”

Fans showed their support in the comment section of Sports Illustrated Swimwear’s post, with one person writing, “Yes. Yes. A million times yes. So proud of her!” briannalapaglia/Instagram On Jan. 5, the content creator attended the Golden Globes 2025 in a shiny Maria Lucia Hohan gown. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

This year is already treating the Boston native well.

On Jan. 5, she hit the red carpet at the Golden Globes 2025 in a plunging Maria Lucia Hohan gown after she revealed that Bryan was unhappy with her sheer dress for the same awards show the year previously.

At this show, she told Page Six in an interview that she’s focusing on herself this year.

“2025: the year of being single. I haven’t done it in a long time,” LaPaglia said. “I want to surround myself with good people, I want to be a good person. I just wanna, like, have a good aura in 2025.”