A lingerie model at the age of 14. The first "plus-size" model on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The star of the music video for DNCE's song "Toothbrush." Model Ashley Graham is a lot of things; but one thing she does not want to be labeled as is plus-size. This isn't out of any kind of denial or avoidance– she is an active advocate for seeing more curvy girls in modeling, and says herself that she wants to walk in the Givenchy show to prove curvy girls have a place in high fashion. And in fact, that very strive for acceptance is what leads her to take issue with the term "plus-size."

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In mid-2018, Graham gave a TedX Talk called "Plus Size? More Like My Size." In it, she talked about body positivity and explained why she calls for the term plus-size to be driven out of use. She also has given multiple interviews on the topic, stating in one that "I just don't like that there is a division between straight size and plus-size models in the fashion world. I am trying to bridge that gap." 

 

And, yes, Ashley is actively working to accomplish her goals. She is the head of a model's collective called ALDA, which works to break down divisions and categorizations in fashion. She and the other models promote the idea that it shouldn't matter whether you're a size "2 or 22," as long as you're healthy. With health being a long-standing issue in a modeling community riddled with eating disorders, ALDA and Ashley Graham are exactly what the modeling industry needs: inspiration for girls everywhere to see that they can be beautiful at any size, and what matters the most is being healthy, strong, and confident.