Ashley Graham, 28, has become the first "plus-sized" model to be featured on the cover of the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in the 52 years that the magazine has existed. Ever since she was discovered in a local mall at age 12 and signed with a modeling agency at age 13, Ashley has been a force to be reckoned with in the modeling world. From being featured in prestigious magazines worldwide such as Vogue, Glamour and London Times, to name a few; to creating her own line of lingerie, being a role model and body activist, to being featured on the cover of Forbes magazine's January issue, and now being featured in this year's SI Swimsuit Edition -- this woman has done it all.
So, why is she so amazing?
In a recent interview Ashley did on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Feb. 26, she won the hearts of millions. Ellen said, "So explain what is a 'plus-sized model.'" Ashley replied, "That's a really good question. I've always been told that a 'plus-sized' starts at a size eigh and it goes up to a 16-18." Then Ashley turned and faced Ellen's audience and said "So, the majority in this room is considered 'plus-sized.' Hope you feel better about yourselves."
She then talks about her role as a body activist by saying "I'm not a promoter of anorexia, I'm not a promoter of obesity, I think we have to promote women to be healthy at every size as long as they're getting off the couch and moving their body."
In a final few remarks about the modeling world on the Ellen show, Ashley states, "Words have power. And, when someone's telling you 'you're too pretty,' 'you're too ugly,' 'you're too fat,' 'you're too skinny' constantly, and I've been doing this for 16 years now -- you start to believe it. And you start to think that every word that somebody says, that it's true. And the moment that I realized 'you know what, I don't have to fit into a certain standard. I don't have to be a certain kind of woman. I have to be my own woman -- the woman that my mother created me to be.'"
Wow. Ashley said it best. It's time for society in general, especially the modeling industry, to stop labeling women as "fat," "skinny," "plus-sized," "stocky," etc., and start appreciating and valuing each woman for who they are. No one was created to fit into a certain mold and conform to fit a certain standard. Everyone is perfect and beautiful just the way they are.
Ashley, thank you for being a voice for girls of all body types in general, but especially in the modeling industry. Thank you for paving a path for women of all shapes and sizes to be recognized and supported. You're a true trailblazer, and I hope that your work helps to create a modeling industry where diversity is welcomed and appreciated, instead of looked down upon.
Watch Ashley's full interview on "Ellen":
