6 reasons why Ashley Graham is this generation's body-positive icon (2024)

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She also became a maternity fashion role model, wearing daring outfits that showed off her baby bump.

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Recently, Graham has documented and spoken candidly about the not-so-glamorous realities of postpartum life.

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Before her pregnancy, Graham was already making waves in the body positive movement, having rejected the "plus-size" label.

Graham has been firm in her stance that the label "plus-size" is outdated, whether in putting high-fashion models into groups, or when used in stores and in everyday discussions about style and body image.

"I think the word 'plus-size' is so divisive to women," Graham said in a 2017 interview with "CBS This Morning." "I think that when you use the word 'plus-size' you're putting all these women into a category: 'You don't eat well.' 'You don't work out.' 'You could care less about your body.' 'You're insecure.' 'You have no confidence.'"

One of the first times the model publicly spoke out about her challenges with being labeled plus-size was in her 2015 TED Talk, "Plus-size? More like my size."

During the powerful presentation, Graham shared her experiences being labeled as "pretty, for a big girl," and called on people to look beyond the confines of plus-size.

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She fights for designers and brands to recognize a wide range of sizes.

Graham has been relentless about the need for size diversity, or the representation of a wide range of sizes, in the fashion industry as a whole, but especially when it comes to clothing stores.

She's spoken up about the realities of not being able to wear certain designers or brands because they weren't willing to cater to her dress size, as well as the conundrum of not being able to find clothes she liked and that were flattering on her body.

"I couldn't find things that fit me the way I wanted them to, and I couldn't find designs that made me feel special, that made me feel like I'm a fashion girl," Graham told Glamour in an interview.

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She also denounces the retouching of her photos and praises publications that feature her unedited pictures.

Graham has publicly thanked photographers and publications for not retouching her in photo shoots, such as when she praised a story from Italian Vogue that featured her unedited photos, writing on Instagram, "When they don't retouch you."

In addition, according to a 2017 story from The Cut, Graham asked the magazine's staff not to retouch her photos. She also apparently told them that if they did do any editing, that they should enhance her cellulite — not erase it.

"It's better to keep the cellulite if you can. You can make it bigger!" she told The Cut staff at the photo shoot, according to the article.

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In addition, Graham has collaborated on clothing lines that include size-inclusive denim, swimsuits, and lingerie.

In addition to encouraging existing designers and brands to offer clothes for all sizes, Graham has taken matters into her own hands with her own inclusive clothing collections.

Her collection with Swimsuits For All offers swimwear in sizes 4 through 40 in a variety of styles. She also has a denim line with Marina Rinaldi and a lingerie collection with Addition Elle, both of which have a wide range of sizes.

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She proves that self-worth is not determined by the number on a clothing tag.

At a conference hosted by Create & Cultivate, Graham made powerful points about body acceptance and self-love, saying, "It doesn't matter what size or shape you are. You can be healthy."

"It's not just about our size. It's about our mind, our heart, our emotions. We get so wrapped up in this size conversation," Graham added.

Even though popular culture has seen increased diversity and representation in recent years, there's still progress to be made. Plus, in an era where social media images can make for unhealthy comparisons, especially among younger generations, the world always has room for more body acceptance and positivity.

Thankfully, we can count on Ashley Graham to continue inspiring others with her encouraging words and rejection of outdated standards of beauty.

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• Read more:
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