Billboards, magazines, commercials, and mannequins are constant reminders of the body shape ideal that woman are expected to conform to. Curvier women challenge these norms, and because of this, they can be labeled with cruel adjectives like fat, which can be synonymous with words like gross, lazy, and even ugly. These women suffer by being ridiculed by strangers (both online and in person) and by shopping in secluded sections of stores (or even separate stores in general).
Luckily, the world has people who work hard to prove to the world that beauty is not measured by a woman's body size. Body activist and model Ashley Graham is opening the world's eyes and proving that women can be beautiful, sexy, and fit, no matter the size of her body.
Through her major social media following, Ashley promotes her belief that women should love the skin they are in. Ashley is someone girls and women can look up to for confidence and beauty advice. The following quotes said by Ashley are reminders of the importance of self-love, self-acceptance, and self-confidence:
"It’s not just about being healthy; it’s also about loving who you are. If you don’t love who you are, you are never going to feel 100 percent satisfied in life. It all starts with you. If you don’t love you, nobody else is going to be able to.”
"My goal is to give a voice to young women... who struggle to find somebody they look up to. For girls who struggle to look inside the mirror and say 'I love you.' For women who feel uncomfortable expressing their confidence they locked away inside themselves."
"It doesn't matter if you're a size 2 or 22, you can be healthy as long as you're taking care of your body, working out, and telling yourself 'I love you' instead of taking in the negativity of beauty standards."
"Soon girls like me won't be an exception to the norm, but part of it."
"As a curvy woman, it was the assumption that I should look up to Marilyn Monroe or Jennifer Lopez, mainly because they were two of the most notable curvy women in the public eye that were being praised for their curves. But these weren't my role models. In reality, the woman I looked up to the most was my mother. She told me I was beautiful and she never devalued herself, so why would I? She told me and taught me that true beauty comes from within and that validation and self worth must also come from within."
"It is critical that both men and women create a body-positive environment. Uplift the important women in your lives. Create a safe space for them to express their body and their beauty for who they are, not because of who they're not."
"Be you. Be real. Be authentic. Be your favorite kind of woman. Don't let anybody else take that job."
Make sure you follow Ashley on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
