Veteran model Cheryl Tiegs has taken issue with Sports Illustrated bosses for putting a plus-size model on the cover of their new Swimsuit Issue, because she feels it "glamorises" poor health.

The former SI Swimsuit Issue star is not among those embracing the decision to put curvy and sexy Ashley Graham on the cover of the annual publication.

"Her (Graham) face is beautiful, beautiful, but I don't think it's healthy in the long run," Cheryl explained to E! News.

And she believes the rise of full-figured models sends the wrong message to young girls who dream of becoming models.

"I don't like it that we're talking about full-figured women because were glamorising them," she added. "Your waist should be smaller than 35 (inches). That's what (TV medic) Dr. Oz said and I'm sticking to it."

Graham made history earlier this month (Feb16), when she was named the first size-16 model to land a Sports Illustrated cover, along with UFC fighter and movie star Ronda Rousey and model Hailey Clauson.

Ashley previously admitted she was shocked to discover she would not only be in the new issue, but also on the cover, telling People magazine, "I thought Sports Illustrated was taking a risk by putting a girl my size in the pages, but putting me on the cover? They aren't just breaking barriers; they are the standard now. This is beyond epic."

She also appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show this week (beg22Feb16) and told the host she wasn't a fan of the term plus-size to describe models who aren't the norm.

"I've always been told plus-size starts at a size-eight and it goes up to a size-16...," she said. "We're telling women they're plus-sized and, for me, I just like to call it 'curvasexalicious (sic)'."