Here at The Shona Project, we have a list as long as your arm of all the amazing women around the world that we consider our heroes. We’ve decided to dedicate the next few Friday’s to some of these women. We’ll tell you all about them but most importantly, we’ll tell you why we love them 💖
In this week’s instalment of Shona Hereos, we have, Ashley Graham.
Introducing Ashley Graham
If you want to see someone who is real, raw, and honest then you all need to follow Ashley Graham. Ashley is an American plus-size supermodel, tv presenter, and designer who is all about embracing her body for what it is. She is dedicated to her career and making an impact for women and girls everywhere. She truly is an inspirational and role model to so many people worldwide.
Women have to support each other more. Women get women. We understand each other when we are happy or sad, when we have our period, start a new job, or fall in love. We are typically the caretakers. Let’s take care of each other, start building each other up. The stereotype with women is that we are catty and vindictive. It’s important to fight against that notion. I have a no BS policy in my circle.
Why do we love Ashley Graham?
We have two words….. BODY POSITIVITY. Ashley is making history one swimsuit at a time. This queen is the definition of self-love, there are nothing and no one that will get in the way of her task to end negativity around body image and size. Ashely is an advocate for body acceptance and fighting every stereotype and unrealistic standard of beauty in and out of the fashion and beauty industries.
I used to be bound by people who placed limits on what they thought I could do. Through that, I learned that if you want something, you have to be the one to go out and do it If you don’t ask for something, you’re not going to get it.
Much like the rest of us, Ashley is a serious foodie and fitness fanatic. She is showing us all that you can have a love for food but also be healthy and fit at the same time. Size or body shape doesn’t mean you are not healthy and thriving from within. She aims to change the image of fitness that it doesn’t mean you need to be a size 0 and on different kinds of diets. Instead, people need to focus more on using fitness to be healthy instead of changing how we look.
If you have seen Ashley Grahams Instagram account, then it will be no surprise to you why we love her. Ashley is raw, honest, and REAL. She uses her Instagram and social media accounts to normalize body diversity and all the natural changes women and girls go through with their bodies. She will not shy away from allowing the world to see her stretch marks or cellulite (we all have them). Recently she went as far as even showing the world what postpartum life really looks like. Not everyone bounces back to their pre-baby body and that is OK.
The thing that I really want to promote and that I want women to understand is that it’s not about wanting something else; it’s about being self-assured about your size and also just loving your body.
Along with her Instagram promoting realistic standards, Ashley also tries her best for her body to be shown how it is in real life across all media. Instead of hopping on face tune or photoshop Ashley praises magazines that show off her unedited photos and even ask editors to not retouch her photos.
Ashley is taking the fashion industry by storm, having shared, time and time again, her struggles with finding clothes that fit right and flatter her body. Instead of sitting back, she is changing the industry to force companies and designers to create more diverse clothing. It’s time to embrace our curves! She is paving the way of fashion for women and girls everywhere and it’s determined to prove to people that our self-worth has nothing to do with what size jeans we wear, size is nothing but a number.
Ashley Graham’s Achievements
Ashley has already achieved some pretty impressive things during her career. She made history in 2016 by being the first curvy model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has received awards such as Glamour award for the body activist and Shorty awards for best in activism. Not only has she received awards for her campaign for self-love but she has also graced top magazine covers such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaarr along with representing huge fashions and brand designers on the catwalk.
Are you now obsessed with Ashley Graham and want to learn more? Check out the video below where she speaks about the biggest career lesson she ever learned!
P.S. We know she is your new celebrity crush! You’re welcome 😉
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