‘Beyond The Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue’ Review – An Intimate Account Of A Trailblazer

Some people mark time in a career and let it pass them by. Then, some do more than watch the hours fly by; instead, they bring time to a halt. Jule Campbell was undoubtedly the latter. Beyond The Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue brings us an intimate look at Campbell’s legacy as the founder of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In her own words, “I’m glad I never had a boring life.” The documentary tells how this brash and determined woman entered a male-dominated industry and turned the popular sports magazine into a cultural phenomenon. Full of candor, the film helps us understand Jule (in the movie in her twilight years) and how her trailblazing efforts are still felt today, in front of and behind the camera.

Documentaries are difficult, particularly when the subject is alive. We meet Jule in the film at the age of 93, living in her family’s farmhouse in Flemington, New Jersey. However, there is a moment early on when Jule and the director Jill Campbell (Jule’s ex-daughter-in-law) look up the meaning of the word documentary. “Dealing freely with historical events, especially of a recent or controversial nature.” This is a fitting definition and serves as this documentary’s capstone.

This is not a cradle-to-grave story but highlights an essential part of Jule Campbell’s life. However, we do learn an interesting facet of her early life. She wanted to be an artist when she was young, but her parents pushed her in a different direction. This artistic spirit is essential to the work Jule did while at Sports Illustrated, but also for the inspirational legacy she leaves behind.  To hear Jule’s own words on working for the magazine, we are given first-hand accounts of how innovative, if not revolutionary, the whole swimsuit concept was at the time. 

Interestingly, Jule refuses to call herself a trailblazer because women worked at magazines long before she came on the scene. However, we cannot downplay her creative footing. Jule successfully challenged the norms of the day while entering a male-dominated industry. Whereas others might have seen to exploit or overindulge, particularly when it came to a swimsuit edition, Jule held her ground. “If you respect beauty,’ she says, ‘you’ve nourished your soul.” This line of thinking was instrumental to Jule as she fought stereotypes, societal norms, and chaotic attitudes.  

The models she worked with for the magazine share this philosophy equally. As much as the documentary showcases Jule’s innovative approach to the magazine edition, it dedicates much of itself to hearing from the women Jule mentored. The film shares personal stories from Christie Brinkley, Tyra Banks, Roshumba Williams, and more. Each praises Jule and compliments how her efforts at Sports Illustrated launched many of their careers and redefined feminism. 

Each of these women remarks fondly on Jule. Whereas other photographers or editors would seek gratuitous shots, Jule stood as a bulwark, protecting her models like a fierce mother hen. Interestingly, director Campbell notes this is not just a film about women in bikinis. The reverence Brinkley, Banks, and others have for Jule speaks to her character and artistic integrity.   

Part of the film asks about the relevance of such work, particularly in the modern age. Many call out the magazine for its perceptions of femininity and adherence to the male gaze. Many of the charges hurled at the magazine now are the same ones going back decades. There will always be heckles from the peanut gallery or mobs of Karen brigades. Jule, both then and at the time of the documentary, is unfazed and wears each criticism as a badge of honor. The film neither touts nor disgraces the magazine or its industry. Instead, the focus remains on the pioneering effort of one Jule Campbell and how that reshaped an industry.

Beyond The Gaze serves as more than the title. It is a daring proclamation. Elle MacPherson, who also appears in the film, calls Jule a powerhouse and someone who came in with a voice and an opinion. For an industry dominated by men and accentuated by the male gaze, Jule’s work is a testament to breaking down gender roles and shattering glass ceilings. The film, if nothing else, brilliantly answers the critics of the swimsuit edition. In a world before trends, hashtags, or social media pressures, Jule stood alone and proud. Her work is not only as a pioneer in the industry but also as an artist who straddles the line between showcasing female beauty and ethical considerations.

The film showcases Jule at her home in her final years. For 32 years, she was the editor of the swimsuit edition, but her legacy is more than the mere title she held. Campbell captures this legacy through stories while weaving an inspirational tale of determination and empowerment. Beyond The Gaze is not an oral history on Sports Illustrated or an album on a person’s life. Instead, it is frank documentation about a woman who left an enduring mark on our culture. It was more than a simple magazine shoot, but a conversation on artistic expression.     

Beyond The Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue is currently playing in select theaters.