Model praised for walking Sports Illustrated swimsuit show runway while breastfeeding

A model has strutted down the runway at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit show while breastfeeding her five-month-old daughter.

Mara Martin took to the runway in Miami, Floria for the 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show, the Daily Mail reports.

Photo / Getty

Photo / Getty

The proud mother was one of 16 finalists selected from an open casting call to take part in the runway show as part of Miami Swim Week.

Wearing a gold bikini and carrying her infant daughter in one arm, Martin grinned as she walked along the runway at the W Hotel South Beach to loud cheers from the crowd. 

Prior to the show, Martin expressed her excitement on Instagram as she shared a photo of her with her smiling daughter.

"The face you make when your mom makes it to the final 16 of the @si_swimsuit Swim Search!!" she posted.

"I'm so so so thankful for the entire team at sports illustrated for picking me! @mj_day (and team)... you guys are THE FREAKING BEST! And to EVERY girl that casted from the online submissions to the open call.. you all rock. My fellow girls in the final 16.. LETS DO THIS!!! Congratulations to every single one of you!!!!"

Thousands of women auditioned throughout the week for one of the 16 spots on the catwalk. 

Paralympic gold medal snowboarder Brenna Huckaby led the final walk down the runway for the 2018 swimsuit show. 

Photo / Getty

The 22-year-old became the first Paralympian to ever grace the pages of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit issue earlier this year ahead of the competition in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in March.

The three-time world championship gold medalist had her right leg amputated after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2010. 

This article was originally published on Daily Mail and is reproduced here with permission.