- Ashley Graham uses her platform as a supermodel to fight for size inclusivity in fashion.
- Graham refuses to be retouched in photo shoots and has been vocal about designers who fail to cater to a wide range of clothing sizes.
- She also rejects the phrase "plus-size," arguing that it's outdated and divisive.
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While the phrase "body positivity" can mean something different for everyone, it's no secret that the movement has driven change in the fashion industry and today's culture.
Some shoppers are becoming increasingly fed up with stores that fail to offer a range of sizes. New clothing lines have emerged— and are emerging — as a response to customers' requests for size inclusivity, and brands that fail to cater to a diverse customer base could see their sales affected.
At the heart of the conversation surrounding body positivity in the world of fashion is Ashley Graham, who fights for size inclusivity on and off the runway.
Graham has been modeling since age 13, when she was scouted in a mall in Lincoln, Nebraska. At age 17, she graduated high school and moved to New York to move into the next phase of her career as a supermodel.
"While most kids are going through their self-discovery stage in college, my self-discovery stage was in the midst of catwalks, catalogs, and casting calls," she said in her 2015 TED Talk. "Plus-size? More like my size."
Her modeling career gained traction in 2016 following her historic appearance on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue — which made her the first model categorized as "plus-size" to be featured on front of the magazine.
Graham doesn't just talk the talk of promoting size inclusivity. She literally walks the walk, from refusing to have her photos retouched, to creating her own size-inclusive clothing lines.
Here's why Ashley Graham is this generation's ultimate body-positivity icon.
She's rejected the "plus-size" label, citing the stigma surrounding the word
Graham has also been firm in her stance that the label "plus-size" is outdated, whether in putting high-fashion models into groups, or when used in stores and in everyday discussions about style and body image.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.
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.
In an Instagram post, she wrote, "Curves deserve couture."
"There are many curvy women who are willing to spend money on quality, designer clothing, but often times they are not even given the opportunity because the sizes just don't exist,"Graham said in an interview with British Vogue.
She doesn't tolerate the editing or retouching of her photos
Graham's 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.
She uses social media to celebrate herself, and her fans are receptive
The former "America's Next Top Model" judge leverages her social media presence to spread messages of body positivity, which makes her a prominent role model among a digitally savvy, connected generation.
Many of Graham's Instagram posts tackle taboos of body features that are often retouched in big photo shoots, from stretch marks to cellulite. Earlier this year, Graham announced her pregnancy on Instagram and shared a photo showing off her stretch marks, and fans showed their support for the model's authenticity.
She's 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.
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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