On May 18, 2016, the band DNCE dropped a music video to one of their new singles "Toothbrush." Besides being as catchy as their hit single "Cake by the Ocean," the video for "Toothbrush" is extra special because it features plus-size model Ashley Graham as the leading lady.
In the music video Ashley Graham plays the role of Joe Jonas' girlfriend as they depict a fairly new relationship, which moves to the next step where they are comfortable enough with each other that she can "leave a toothbrush" at his place. As I was watched the video, over and over again, seeing Ashley Graham's curves confidently on display and being practically worshiped by Joe Jonas elicited powerful feelings from within, especially as a plus-size girl myself.
When I really think about it, Ashley Graham is a very inspiring woman. Besides being classified as "plus-size" she has made a very successful career out of being a model and entrepreneur. Some of her achievements according to ashleygraham.com include, being the first plus-size model to appear in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit edition, starring in Lane Bryant campaigns #ImNoAngel and #PlusIsEqual, featuring on the covers of Elle Quebec, London Times, Cover Magazine, Style Magazine, and The Edit, as well as featuring in the Shape Issues of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, and Elle UK. She has appeared regularly in Levi's, Calvin Klein, and Marin Rinaldi campaigns. She also has a partnership with swimsuitsforall where she will design three annual swimsuit collections, the first of which launched on May 5th, 2016. Ashley Graham also has collaborated with Addition Elle on her own line of lingerie tailored to women of various sizes. She is also labeled as a body activist and gives speeches at high schools and girl groups and she has even done a TEDx talk called "Plus Size? More Like My Size." Looking all her achievements she really is an inspiration that not only plus sized women, but women of all sizes can be successful.
Seeing Ashley Graham in a mainstream music video, those of which usually feature thin female leads, gives me hope for the future of the fashion, music and movie industries. Maybe more people of all body types will have the confidence that it takes to step out and show the world what they got. Maybe these industries will welcome them with more open arms after seeing the success of Ashley Graham. The world needs representation. Not all 7 billion of the people on Earth look like the celebrities and models we see on the television and the Internet. So I just want to say thank you to Ashley Graham and the other plus-size models and celebrities out there for showing that confident curves can be sexy too.
