Is the fashion world finally ready for Ashley Graham? BY LAURA deCARUFEL
ashion is full of skinnymarinks,but the freshest face of the season boasts a fuller silhouette—as well as feline brown eyes, a megawatt smile and cheekbones
for days. Ashley Graham, 27, has ruled the plus-size world WOMAN on TOP for a decade. Now, as the modelling industry (finally) appears ready
to embrace a broader definition of beauty, Graham has her eyes on the supermodel prize. And why not?
She has already worked with David Sims, Katie Grand, S?lve Sundsb? and, most recently, Carine Roitfeld.
“I want to get to the next level, next level, next level,” says Graham.
What was the plus-size modelling industry like when you started? “At first,I didn’t get the difference because I was so young. As I got older, I realized
‘Oh, I’m one of the “big girls,” the ones who aren’t quite accepted’—that opened my eyes a lot.”
Is there more respect now? “I have never felt disrespected as a plus-size model—it was mainly in the high-end
world where I felt like I didn’t belong. But it has changed im mensely over the past five years. There are [plussize]
girls on covers, in editorials and in makeup campaigns. High-end designers
like Donna Karan, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein are doing plussize collections.”
Why do you think it has changed? “The average American woman is size 12 to 14, so if you aren’t catering to the average woman, you’re catering
to a small group of people. [Designers] realize that—and they want to make money.”
What have you learned from trailblazers like Crystal Renn? “Crystal is actually one of my best friends. I have
some of the best moves because of her! We’d stand in front of the mirror
naked together and she’d say ‘This is how you manipulate your body.’”
What’s next? “I love how Cindy Crawford wasn’t just a face—she actually
created a brand. That is something I really admire and want to work my way up to.... Maybe in five
or 10 years there’ll be an Ashley Graham Show, but there’s an Ashley Graham Show happening right now, in my apartment in Brooklyn!”
