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Briana “Chickenfree” LaPaglia’s memorable name is one you might not be familiar with until last year.
The Barstool Sports personality has long enjoyed a large following on social media, but she reached a new level of fame in 2024 thanks to increased scrutiny of her personal life.
In a tragic turn of events, Zach Bryan dumped Brianna after only a year of dating.
And to hear Ms. Chikanari tell it, the country star didn’t like it when she cut him off.
Briana LaPaglia’s painful year
In fact, she claims that Byron brutally blinded her.
“I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we’ve broken up, and I had no idea this post was going up,” INS LaPaglia said in a YouTube video (via Page Six “
“He didn’t text me, he didn’t call me.”
Obviously, this is too harsh, and Bryan has received harsh criticism for the way he handled the situation.
Brianna later accused Zac of emotional abuse, and she says she still has not fully recovered from their separation. But despite all her pain, there’s no doubt that Bri emerged victorious from this breakup.
a new chapter
Yes, as she announced today on Instagram, Brianna has been selected as the cover model for the 2025 digital edit Sports Illustrated The swimsuit issue.
LaPaglia said of the shoot, “It’s more than just looking hot in my swimsuit – it’s reclaiming me as a woman, reclaiming my body and my decisions and my choices.”
“This cover is me becoming me again and taking control of my life. this is my body; My body is not meant to have that experience, and even though I’m not 100% into it yet, it is who I am. It has nothing to do with anyone else,” she added.
,[The photo shoot] Just, on a smaller scale, you’re my favorite. This is me, and this is what I wanted to do, and now I’m on the digital cover.
birth of a swifty
Brianna’s mental health may be doing well these days, but she is not enduring the pain she endured last year.
Luckily, it seems she was able to find solace in a healthy coping mechanism that works for millions of other victims of heartbreak.
yes, somewhere else in it S.I In the interview, LaPaglia explains that the separation from Brian gave her a new appreciation for Taylor Swift’s music.
Brianna said, “It’s unfortunate that I had to go through this situation to become a Swiftie,” adding that she is “so grateful that I found Taylor.”
He said he also got the lyrics of Taylor’s song “I Hate It Here” tattooed on his arm.
This may have been an additional “influence” for his ex-girlfriend, as Brian faced the ire of Swifties when he posted negative tweets about the pop icon last year.
As editor of S.I Of note, Brie made a lucrative non-disclosure deal so she could retain the freedom to tell her story to the world:
The magazine reports, “Specifically, LaPaglia was offered $12 million and an apartment in New York by her ex in exchange for her silence on anything that happened while they were together. “
“She refused to admit it, and instead began speaking out about the relationship, which she describes as controlling and emotionally abusive.”
As her star continues to rise, it’s clear that Brianna has made the right decision.
And the growing army of fans can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.