By now, all of you have heard the popular tune, 'Cake By the Ocean'. Well, the band behind this song, DNCE led by Joe Jonas, is making headlines not just for their upbeat music and catchy lyrics.
In May, the band released the song 'Toothbrush' and soon after came out with a new music video for the song and let me tell you, if you haven't gotten in on the hype of this video already you my friend, are very far behind.
First, you need to know about Ashley Graham, the plus-sized model is taking the fashion world (and now the music world) by storm. Now, I feel a bit uncomfortable referring to her as 'plus-sized' for she is so much more than that. She's an advocate for healthy body images for women, she's hilarious in interviews and to top it all off, she's gorgeous, of course.
https://www.instagram.com/theashleygraham/
I mean, look at her!
#girlpower
Now what's great about this music video is that Joe Jonas (who plays the male lead in this little love story) asked Ashley Graham to play his love interest and here is why that is so cool. I don't think I personally could name another music video where the female love interest isn't someone who is society's perfect image of skinny. Can you? Another great thing about all of this is that the music video wasn't meant to cause these intense society reflective waves, Ashley Graham was asked to play the part simply because she was capable.
Joe Jonas said in an interview for W Magazine, "“I don’t think we’re trying to make a huge statement, but if for some reason, we change a standard a little bit, that’s great".
Big statements pushing people to look critically at the ridiculous body standards we have set for ourselves is great. We need the big statements to advocate for change. Yet when, let's say a 'plus-sized' model, is the star of a dreamy former Jonas Brother's latest music video and it wasn't to make some sort of stand against society, she was just chosen because they thought she would do the best job. That's when you know the big statements have been working and you can actually start seeing the change occur.
If you do not find that incredibly exciting, I question why you don't.
This is not just a win for women who are plus-sized. This is a win for ALL WOMEN. Of ALL shapes and sizes. Something that is so amazing about Ashley Graham is that she does not advocate for obesity nor anorexia. She advocates for overall health. If your healthy weight puts you at a size two or a size eight, it doesn't matter. As long as you care for yourself, mentally, emotionally and physically.
That is what women are winning with this short little music video. A chance to finally see someone who is comfortable in their own skin and still not within the beauty standards that have been ingrained in our brains by pop culture of the past (and the present, but hopefully this marks the beginning of that change!).
So here's to the fabulous Ashley Graham, the Jonas Brothers clawing their way up from the depths of Disney (one brother at a time), and of course, loving yourself the way you are.