Ashley Graham's mother convinced her not to give up modelling when she wanted to throw the towel in. The catwalk 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.
Ashley Graham has become one of the hottest names in fashion during recent years
She has documented her journey in new book A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty and Power Really Look Like, but admits there have been times when she didn't want to go on. "Everything was about exterior, everything was about weight for me,” she told ET. “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.
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“I said (to my mom), '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 landed the title of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model.
Ashley has documented her journey in a new book
Chatting to ET about who else she sees as role models, the 29-year-old brunette mentioned Amy Schumer and Lena Dunham. "I don't think media's ever gonna change, but I think it's important that people like Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer, and me, and many more women, stand up and say, 'Guess what, this is what's really going on," she smiled.