ashley graham
photo: @ashleygraham / Instagram

Ashley Graham is a talented model, designer, TV host, producer, and all-around trailblazer for other curvy women in the fashion industry. Her voice is powerful, and she's making leaps and bounds for size inclusion and body diversity. So, why is it that she's still constantly called "brave" for just living her life?

The body-positivity movement is kind of like a double-edged sword. On one hand, she's truly making a difference not only in the industry but in other women's lives. On the other, being told she's "brave" for simply putting on a swimsuit is getting old.

Graham, 30, opened up to Fashion Week Daily about her latest feats, future endeavors, and how she stays positive in the industry. 

She recently tried her hand as an executive producer on her show "American Beauty Star," landed a major beauty contract with Revlon, and was turned into a catwalking hologram — all pretty amazing accomplishments.

In fact, Graham says she's the "first curvy girl of [this] generation to have a makeup contract," and she doesn't take it lightly.

70’s glam⚡️

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"It just goes to show that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and lipstick doesn’t have a size. That was the biggest thing I wanted Revlon to understand," she told FWD.

She praised Revlon for giving women like her a voice and lifting them up to feel beautiful.

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"You’re not just giving a contract to a model; you’re giving a voice to women who haven’t felt beautiful and who haven’t been praised in the media for being themselves. That’s exactly what Revlon did when they signed me on to their roster," she exclaimed.

But while she's incredibly gracious about her accomplishments, there's one thing about being a champion for body positivity that gets pretty annoying: always having to talk about it.

Sometimes you just want to celebrate your accomplishments without talking about body politics, ya know?

"I’m so excited that we’re finally getting a seat at the table, but it’s exhausting to have to always talk about how 'brave' you are for getting into a bikini because your cellulite is hanging out," Graham explained.

"The worst question I get asked all the time is, 'How did you find the confidence to get into that bikini and get photographed and not get your cellulite retouched?'" she continued. "And it’s like, well, honestly, I just got into the bikini, I went to the beach, and then I got over it."

But as irritating and tired as those questions may be, she doesn't take her platform for granted. Ever.

Whenever she gets annoyed, she simply remembers the women she's inspiring and the reason she's doing all of this.

"We all have our insecurities, but you learn to grow and love yourself, and I think about all the women whose lives are being changed by seeing that photo and by seeing me just being confident and posing. That’s why I do this," Graham said.

As for her future, she says there are a lot more walls to break through — especially when she compares her accomplishments with straight-sized models.

photo: CFDA / Giphy

"There are many, many, many more covers I want to get. I’ve talked to Joan [Smalls], Karlie [Kloss], Amber [Valletta], and Gigi [Hadid], and they have had a multitude of covers that just come to them like it’s a regular thing. I would love to have that happen," she told FWD.

As for the brands and covers who rejected her in the past, only to accept her in the present, she plans on killing them with kindness.

"You should have hopped on [this bandwagon] a little sooner. But I do it with a smile on my face. I’m never going to be rude or say no to somebody just because they said no to me," she said with positivity.

All in all, though, Graham's one hope for the industry is that eventually, this conversation won't even be happening. Diversity and body positivity won't be trends. They'll just be real life.

"I also think there just needs to be more diversity. I mean no more tokens or checklists, like [brands] making sure that they have this girl, that girl, and the other girl, just to show that they are authentic and about diversity," said Graham. "It doesn’t need to be a conversation. It just needs to be there."

So, you can call her brave all you want, but Graham is just living her life, conquering her goals, and staying true to herself. And she'll continue to do so no matter what you say.

photo: Identity / Giphy