When Ashley Graham graced the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue in 2016, it was more than just a modeling milestone. It was a cultural moment; one that signaled to millions of women that curves, cellulite, and softness could be celebrated, not hidden.
But while mainstream media was just catching up, many in the plus size community had already been doing the work. And as Ashley’s profile rose, so did the questions: Who gets to represent us? And who is still being left out?
From Modeling to Movement
Ashley’s career has always been about more than fashion. Long before the SI cover, she was building a platform around body acceptance and self-love. In her 2015 TEDx talk, she famously declared, “I like to think of it as my-sized,” rejecting the plus size label that the fashion industry continued to impose.
That clarity of vision became her power move. Where many celebrities pivot between causes, Ashley remained steadfast. She brought size diversity to magazine covers, fashion campaigns, and red carpets, forcing a mainstream conversation around who gets to be visible and desirable in our culture.
Strategic Power Plays in Fashion
Ashley’s rise wasn’t accidental… it was calculated. She knew the significance of being first. The first plus size model to walk for Michael Kors at NYFW. The first to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue. The first to land major beauty campaigns with brands like Revlon.
Each move was a signal to the industry that size inclusion wasn’t a niche, it was inevitable.
But these wins also revealed fashion’s limitations. As brands scrambled to check diversity boxes, Ashley’s image… became the dominant representation of the plus size experience. That visibility, while powerful, also drew criticism from within the community: Where were the bodies above a size 18? The darker-skinned models? The visibly fat and disabled?
Business With a Mission
Ashley didn’t stop at modeling. She turned her platform into a brand. She co-designed lingerie with Addition Elle, dropped capsule collections with PrettyLittleThing and Marina Rinaldi, and later partnered with Good American, the size-inclusive label co-founded by Emma Grede and Khloe Kardashian.
Each venture carried the message of accessibility and size diversity… at least on paper. But even as size ranges expanded, true representation in marketing imagery often fell short. As Vogue Business reported, Ashley and Grede have both acknowledged the industry’s backslide on inclusion, calling the progress “glacial” despite the demand.
Still, Ashley’s ability to build a multifaceted business empire, one rooted in purpose… has set her apart. From authoring A New Model to co-hosting talk shows and producing her own digital series, she’s proven that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of authenticity.
When Visibility Isn’t Enough
For all the progress Ashley represents, there’s been real tension behind the scenes. Some plus size consumers and advocates have voiced concerns that her image, and those who follow in her mold… have become the safe, sanitized face of body positivity.
When Ashley appeared on the cover of Maxim in 2016, backlash followed. Fans criticized the heavy retouching, asking whether her curves had been digitally minimized to fit a more traditional beauty standard. The Washington Post covered the pushback, citing fans who felt the shoot betrayed her core message: celebrating real bodies.
Critique also emerged from within the community itself. In a now-archived blog post, lifestyle writer Ty Alexander explored the uncomfortable truth of “fat-on-fat” shaming; how some plus size individuals felt Ashley wasn’t “fat enough” to truly represent the movement. This tension reveals how complicated visibility can be: even progress can feel exclusionary when it only reflects a narrow slice of the community.
A Legacy in Progress
To her credit, Ashley has never claimed to speak for everyone. She speaks from her experience and that experience has empowered many. Her openness about body image, weight fluctuations, and mental health has created real connection with fans. In interviews and public talks, she’s reminded women that success doesn’t require perfection, and confidence isn’t about fitting a mold.
Her message has always been clear: You can take up space, as you are.
But what happens next in the body positivity movement must go further. It can’t stop at one voice… or one body. The future requires a chorus of perspectives, a richer reflection of size, race, gender, ability, and age.
Ashley Graham helped break the door open. Now, the real challenge is building a bigger house.
Ashley built her influence around self-love and inclusivity, using this authentic message to connect with millions and drive cultural change. Her approach wasn’t just about changing her own narrative – it was about transforming how society views beauty standards altogether.
The power of her message lies in its unwavering consistency. While many celebrities pivot between causes, Ashley has remained steadfast in championing body acceptance. This dedication has created a trust bond with her audience that goes far beyond typical celebrity endorsements.
