Brianna LaPaglia, Zach Bryan's ex, claims Sports Illustrated photo shoot was her "favorite f--- you" to the country singer.

Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia "does not require anyone's approval."

The 25-year-old podcast host made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut on the cover of the January digital issue, and while the social media influencer sees the photo spread as an opportunity to move forward after a difficult breakup with ex-boyfriend Zach Bryan, she also wants a little revenge.

"In the interview titled "Brianna LaPaglia is Not Asking for Anyone’s Permission," she stated, "It is just, on a petty level, my favorite 'f--- you,'" to Sports Illustrated."

She stated, 'This is me, and I wanted to do this, and now I'm on the digital cover.'

LaPaglia has been open about the decline of her relationship with the country music artist, which she characterized as emotionally abusive. She also stated that Bryan's team offered her $12 million to sign a non-disclosure agreement following their separation.

They started dating in the summer of 2023 and ended their relationship in the fall of the same year.

Women reached out to LaPaglia to discuss their own experiences with emotional abuse after she spoke out about her struggles in her relationship.

"One of the most rewarding experiences of my life has been helping people in a meaningful way, even during the toughest times," LaPaglia stated. "While posting entertaining content and creating fun videos can be helpful, nothing compares to the impact of using one's platform to make a real difference in people's lives. It's truly incredible."

Some individuals on social media doubt her account of Bryan or allege that she is seeking attention by going public with her story.

"She confessed to SI that she wished she could have one-on-one conversations with her haters to show them her true self. She said, "I wish you could see me for who I really am, not just as a reflection of the negative cycle on TikTok. It's impossible for you to see a positive video of me because once you're on the negative side, it's all that's fed to you.""

She is not overly concerned about the U.S. ban on TikTok, as she is also growing weary of the app itself.

She joked, 'I feel like popping a bottle of champagne and getting rid of this hateful, appalling app!'

She also said she is done hanging out with A-list celebrities.

"For a year, my life revolved around hanging out with famous individuals and indulging in extravagant activities. However, despite their glamorous appearances, their lives appear to be more challenging than my family's back home, where they lead simple, contented lives."

"My life for a year was hanging out with all these famous people and doing all these extravagant things, and, if anything, their lives seem a lot s----ier than my family’s back home, where they are just regular people who are happy and alive." — Brianna LaPaglia

LaPaglia claimed that Bryan made her feel like she had to tone herself down.

"When I enter a room, I feel the urge to engage with everyone," she stated. "At the beginning of our relationship, he found it challenging; I was either talking too much or being too much, and perhaps the attention was not focused enough on him."

Since the relationship has ended, she feels like her former self.

"I'm walking down the street, talking to the bodega guy for 20 minutes too long now. I'm finally talking to my hairdresser again, where I used to just sit in the chair. I'm finding that little spark of life back in myself now that one person that felt like a doom cloud over me at all times is gone."

She realized that she was supposed to host the 60th anniversary red carpet for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue last year but withdrew at the last minute because Bryan deemed it "trashy."

"The magazine cover represents me reclaiming my identity as a woman and taking control of my life. It's not just about looking good in a swimsuit; it's about reclaiming my body, decisions, and choices. This cover is a reflection of me being me again and embracing my body, even though I'm not 100% in it yet. It's not about anyone else's opinion or experience; it's about me and my journey."

Planet Chronicle Digital has reached out to Bryan for comment.