Tag: Ashley Graham

  • All About Ashley

    All About Ashley

    “Stand up for curves. Confidence is sexy.” is a tagline straight from her website. Gosh, I love her.

    You guys have heard about her before on the blog – but it’s finally time to do a post on one of my biggest inspirations in the body image movement – Ashley Graham.

    I was first introduced to her when she became the first ever plus size model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition – and I’ve honestly been hooked ever since. I watched a couple of videos of her on Instagram after all the news started hitting about her, and she was so confident in her own skin it was contagious.

    Ashley was signed to an international modeling agency at the young age of 13, and has been killing it from the beginning. But since I’ve been introduced, she’s pretty much hit the ground running, with magazine covers and features on the regular (in Shape, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and more), being named to Forbes Magazine’s “30 under 30,” and even having her own fashion line (okay, there’s so much more, but these are some highlights).

    This past week, Ashley was recognized at Glamour’s Women of the Year awards for “instantly bringing size acceptance into the mainstream with just one (fabulous) photo,” which references her Sports Illustrated cover. In her acceptance speech, she tells girls and women everywhere: “I let my body hold me back for so long. Don’t let your body hold you back. Don’t let your body insecurities hold you back from doing anything that you want to do.” Preach, girl.

    While at the awards on Monday, Graham was presented with a custom barbie doll that was modeled specifically after her. But this Barbie doll came with curves – as Graham’s number one request was that the doll’s thighs touched (ha, I love her so much).

    Mattel’s Barbie brand, the ones that created the doll, had already expanded the Barbie squad with curvy, petite, and tall body types last year – but this custom Ashley Graham doll is just another step in the right direction. And Graham’s public effort to make girls and women everywhere feel good about themselves, no matter their size, is a force to be reckoned with.

    As all celebrities have dealt with, Ashley’s been criticized on both ends of the spectrum – from “promoting obesity” to “selling out and becoming too thin.” But through it all, Ashley has stayed true to herself, and ladies, that’s all we can do.

    In a world sometimes filled with disrespect, judgement and anger, it’s important that we all channel our inner Ashley Graham. A woman that stands by her body and herself – empowers other women to do the same – and embodies the term f*** the haters, Ashley’s message applies to us all.

    And to me, it doesn’t just apply to our bodies, but it applies to our jobs, our relationships, literally everything. Never be ashamed of who you are – and don’t ever change who you are for the sake of others. Be true to yourself, love yourself, and you’ll find your way in this absolutely crazy world (just like Ashley has).

    And Ashley, just a heads up, this won’t be the last time I obsess over you on the blog 😉 ❤

    Photo credit: Allan Slank

  • Next Time You Talk Negative, Think of Your Best Friend

    Next Time You Talk Negative, Think of Your Best Friend

    In tandem with World Mental Health Day earlier this week, Yahoo Finance posted an eye opening and emotional video of best friends saying negative things they’ve thought to themselves about their bodies, but aloud to each other. Check it out here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=LzT2ZzDXceg 

    Watching this video brought tears to my eyes. To hear these women body shaming themselves was hard – and to be honest, I wanted to shake them and say, “What?! You’re perfect and amazing.”

    This video is a great reminder that we need to stop comparing, and we need to stop judging ourselves. But it also brought back some hard memories from my past.

    For almost my whole life, I’ve talked down to my body. I’ve said some dark and horrible things about myself and my figure – and I’m not proud of it. In turn, I’ve made changes to turn those thoughts positive. But there’s always room for improvement for all of us, and we must work together to rid ourselves of the negativity.

    One of my favorite people who I reference a lot on the blog, Ashley Graham, said in a recent SELF magazine article, “We’ve been taught to say negative things about ourselves. I decided to break that cycle.”

    Well, that’s what I’m hoping to do, too.

    So accept those around you, and accept yourself – flaws and all. And hell, don’t be afraid to compliment yourself and show yourself some love – whether it’s your smile, your outfit, what you achieved today, or how your amazing body looks, don’t forget to give yourself some encouragement. Yes, you can do this out loud. Whether it’s while looking in the mirror, writing in your journal, wherever, it’s SO important!

    I spent too many years not doing it – so I’m giving myself some major catch up time. You should too.

    Body shaming and negative self-talk comes in many forms – and it is mostly internalized. The next time you criticize yourself, body-related or not – imagine yourself having to recite these words aloud to your best friend. Painful, right? Think about this video next time, and maybe your negative thoughts will change.

    Sadly, according to DoSomething.org, approximately 91 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape.

    91 percent – I’m in shock. I’m also saddened by this statistic – and I want people everywhere to know that you are worth it. Your body is amazing and unique. And we all need to appreciate ourselves for exactly who we are, even if it starts with a few kind words.

    So take this video as a lesson – and if you wouldn’t say that negative comment to your best friend, don’t say it to your beautiful self either.

  • Coffee Break: Shamed If I do, Shamed If I don’t 

    Coffee Break: Shamed If I do, Shamed If I don’t 

    “To some I’m too curvy. To others I’m too tall, too busty, too loud, and, now, too small — too much, but at the same time not enough. When I post a photo from a ‘good angle,’ I receive criticism for looking smaller and selling out. When I post photos showing my cellulite, stretch marks, and rolls, I’m accused of promoting obesity. The cycle of body-shaming needs to end …What type of example are we setting for young girls and their self-esteem if grown adults are on Instagram calling other women ‘cowards’ for losing weight, or ‘ugly’ for being overweight? … I refuse to let others dictate how I live my life and what my body should look like for their own comfort. And neither should you … My body is MY body. I’ll call the shots.” — Ashley Graham, August 2016

    To those who don’t know her – Ashley Graham is the first ever plus size model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine (I’ll get to that story later). She’s also a body activist and model making a huge difference in the body image movement. But for now, I want everyone to read the above statement from her – and really soak it in. I’ve witnessed people being criticized for being too big, too small, whatever it is, and it’s time to let people be who they are. It’s also time to accept ourselves for who we are – and screw the haters.

    Most of us aren’t the internet trolls largely responsible for criticizing her, and may not even be criticized like this ourselves on a daily basis, but let’s take this down as a life lesson. What I want you all to take away from her rant is this: “I refuse to let others dictate how I live my life and what my body should look like for their own comfort. And neither should you… My body is MY body. I’ll call the shots.”

    Photo credit: Ashley Graham