Ashley Graham’s mother convinced her not to give up modeling when she wanted to walk away from the runways and the flashbulbs.
The curvy star has smashed stereotypes since becoming one of the hottest names in fashion, and Ashley has helped redefine what beauty is in the style industry, but in her new book, A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty and Power Really Look Like, she admits there have been times when she didn’t want to hit the catwalk.
“Everything was about exterior, everything was about weight for me,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “I really had to step back and say, ‘OK, am I looking for love through sex? Am I looking for love through food? Am I looking for love through the affirmation of fashion people who don’t understand my body?’ I had to really have, like, a come to Jesus moment.
“I said (to my mum), ‘I can’t do it anymore, I’m coming home. This is it,’ and she said, ‘No, no, you’re not coming home. Your body is going to change someone’s life and New York needs you. The fashion industry needs you,’ and I stayed.”
In the last 15 months alone, Ashley has graced the cover of American and British Vogue, had a Barbie doll made in her likeness, and become a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model.
She was also a judge on TV show America’s Next Top Model.
