Ashley Graham Ervin was born on October 30, 1987, in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is a groundbreaking American model, TV host, author, and activist who has changed the fashion industry and what people think of as beautiful. As a plus-size model, Graham has broken down barriers. In 2016, she was the first size 16 model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and in 2017, she was the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of Vogue. Her rise from a young girl found in a Nebraska mall to an international icon shows how strong, real, and committed she is to body positivity and inclusivity. This article looks at Graham’s life, career, activism, and lasting effects on the fashion industry and beyond by weaving together her personal story, professional achievements, and cultural impact.
Life in the Beginning and Discovery
Ashley Graham was the oldest of three sisters and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Linda Graham, her mother, raised her most of the time. When she was young, she had to deal with bullying because of her size and was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. These events changed her point of view and made her deeply sympathetic to people who feel like they don’t belong. Graham got into modeling by chance. When she was 12 years old, the I & I agency found her while she was shopping at Oak View Mall in Omaha, Nebraska. She signed with Wilhelmina Models in 2001 after going to a modeling convention. In 2003, she joined Ford Models, which was the start of a career that would push the limits of what was normal in the industry.
Graham had to deal with the pressures of an industry that often put unattainable beauty standards first when he was a teenager. At 13, she started modeling for brands like Lane Bryant and magazines like YM. Even though she did well at first, she faced criticism and rejection because her curvy body didn’t fit the mold of a traditional model. These problems made her more determined to fight for change, which set the stage for her future role as a leader in body positivity.
Fashion that breaks down barriers
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Graham’s career really took off. She was in Glamour’s editorial “These Bodies are Beautiful at Every Size” in 2009, along with other plus-size models. This was a sign that fashion media was becoming more open to people of all sizes. The next year, her appearance in a Lane Bryant TV ad that caused a lot of talk and controversy got more than 800,000 views on YouTube. Graham talked about the controversy on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, showing that she can handle public criticism with grace and confidence.
The #CurvesInBikinis campaign in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue in 2015 was a big break for her. She was in an ad for Swimsuitsforall. Glamour called it “bringing size acceptance into the mainstream” when she became the first plus-size model to be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2016. This achievement made her famous all over the world and solidified her place as a game-changer in the industry. She became the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of American Vogue in 2017, which made her even more famous.
Graham has done a lot of modeling work, including campaigns for big names like H&M, Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein, as well as editorials for Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and British Vogue. She has walked the runways for designers like Prabal Gurung, Michael Kors, and Christian Siriano, showing that beauty is not limited to size. In 2018, she became a brand ambassador for Revlon. This was a historic move because she was the first curvy model to get a big beauty contract. Her presence in these areas challenged long-held industry biases and made it possible for more diversity.
Graham has grown her influence beyond modeling by starting her own business and designing things. In 2013, she made a line of lingerie for Addition Elle, a Canadian plus-size store. Later, she made a line of swimsuits for Swimsuitsforall. She also worked with Dressbarn to make a line of clothes and with JCPenney to make a line of clothes for women with curves. In 2016, Mattel gave her a Barbie doll that looked like her. Graham insisted that the doll not have a thigh gap to show how much she cared about realistic body representation.
Body Positivity Advocacy
Graham’s most important legacy is her support for body positivity and the Health at Every Size movement. She has used her platform to question traditional ideas of beauty and stress the importance of accepting oneself and embracing differences. Millions of people heard her TEDx Talk in 2015, in which she talked openly about accepting her body, including her cellulite and “back fat.” This made her an even bigger global role model. Graham’s honesty and willingness to post unedited pictures of her body on social media have inspired many women to love their flaws. In an interview with Vogue, she said, “I definitely think that my body has changed many people’s lives,” which shows how much her work has affected people.
Her 2017 memoir, A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like, talks about her time as a plus-size model and how she learned to love herself. The book also talks about her vision for the future of body image, which is a world where all bodies are celebrated. Graham has had an impact on more than just fashion. In 2019, the United Nations’ Women for Peace Association gave her the Women Empowerment Award for her work with them. She worked with Joanna Griffiths on the movie Big. Strong. Woman. in 2022. The movie fights stereotypes about women and shows how strong and resilient they can be.
There are problems with Graham’s advocacy. She has had to deal with trolls and pushback from the industry, and some designers still won’t make clothes for bigger bodies. But she stays strong, using her platform to speak out against unfair practices and demand change. When people criticize her, she often responds with positivity. For example, when she had an awkward interview with Hugh Grant at the 2023 Oscars, she told TMZ, “My mom has told me to kill them with kindness.”
Being on TV and in the media
People want to see Graham on TV because she is charming and real. From 2016 to 2018, she was the backstage host for the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. She was also a judge on America’s Next Top Model for cycles 23 and 24. She hosted the second season of American Beauty Star on Lifetime in 2019. In 2023, she co-hosted HGTV’s Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge, which turned a house into a life-size Barbie Dreamhouse. That year, she also co-hosted the Countdown to the Oscars red carpet show with Vanessa Hudgens and Lilly Singh. She is a strong voice in the media because she can host a variety of shows and speak out for what she believes in.
Graham made her Broadway debut in 2025 as Roxie Hart in Chicago. This role showed that she could do more than just model and take on new challenges. She told People that she was excited to represent curvy women on stage and said, “I’m not going to let you down.” This first performance was another big step in her varied career, showing that she can wow audiences on all platforms.
Life and Legacy
Graham’s personal life is just as impressive as her work life. In 2009, she met her husband, Justin Ervin, at church. He is a cinematographer and documentary filmmaker. They got married in 2010 and have three kids: Isaac (born in 2020), Malachi and Roman (twins born in 2022). Graham has talked about the good and bad things about being a mother, such as how hard it is to balance work and family life. She has also talked about her experiences with breastfeeding and how her body changed after giving birth, which makes different body experiences seem more normal.
Her Nebraska family was shocked at first by her interracial marriage, but Graham and Ervin’s relationship has become a big part of her life. She says that Ervin’s support gives her confidence, and in a Vogue interview, she says that he tells her to be herself. Their relationship is based on love and respect for each other, and Graham often shares touching stories about their time together on social media.
Effect and Future
There is no doubt that Ashley Graham has had a big impact on fashion and pop culture. She has broken down stereotypes, fought against practices that keep people out, and given women the power to love their bodies. More brands are now accepting a wider range of sizes and shapes in fashion thanks to her work. Graham, on the other hand, knows that the fight for inclusion is still going on. She told People, “Fashion designers still tell me, ‘We’re not going to design something for a bigger body.'”
Graham keeps reaching out to more people as she looks to the future. A Kids Book About Beauty, her 2024 children’s book, teaches kids about inner beauty. As a keynote speaker on topics like women’s health and empowerment, she inspires people all over the world. She is still a sought-after voice for change, even though she charges $100,000 to $200,000 to speak at live events.
Ashley Graham’s story of going from a bullied teen to a world-famous person is one of strength, honesty, and making a difference. She has changed the way people think about beauty through her modeling, activism, and presence in the media. She has also inspired millions of people to be proud of who they are. Graham’s legacy as a champion of body positivity and inclusion will live on as she continues to break down barriers on the runway, on Broadway, and in her writing. She will make the world a more diverse and accepting place for generations to come.
