Ashley Graham and Her Unwavering Commitment to Dismantle Beauty Ideals - The Postpartum Chapter.
Ashley Graham is one of the most prominent models in the fashion industry and a leading advocate for body positivity. As a plus-size model and real body advocate, Graham has been an inspiration to women across the globe, and her recent display of self-love and body acceptance has once again proven why she is a great role model for new moms.
In January 2022, Ashley Graham welcomed twin boys, Malachi and Roman, to join her older son Isaac. As a new mother, Graham is no stranger to the toll that pregnancy and childbirth can take on the body but despite this, she is embracing her post-twins body and sharing her journey with the world. YES!
Graham recently shared a naked photo on Instagram, where she is shown holding her stomach with both hands. The post touched viewers with a powerful message of self-love and acceptance, as Graham acknowledges the softness and stretchiness that has come with carrying three boys. Her transparency and vulnerability has given others permission to embrace the same.
Graham has never held back when sharing about her journey, her thoughts and experiences throughout her pregnancy and post-birth. She is known to be quite the vocal advocate for body positivity and praised for her empowering messages, but her recent posts and interviews on this issue has taken this message to a new level.
celebrating. real. bodies.
In an interview with Glamour, Ashley Graham opened up about her transformative journey with her postpartum body while carrying her twins. She candidly discussed the struggle she faced with stretch marks and the crushing weight of societal expectations for new mothers to "snap back" swiftly. But here's the truth: Graham remained unwavering in her commitment to promoting body positivity and rejecting the absurd standards imposed upon women.
Let's take a moment to reflect on the utter madness of it all. In a world where beauty standards are being dictated by Artificial Intelligence (yes, we spelled it out to remind you just how ludicrous it is), women are constantly bombarded with unattainable ideals. Can we ever catch a damn break?
Seriously, do we ever get the chance to simply breathe? The pressure placed upon our exhausted, yet undeniably beautiful postpartum bodies to magically bounce back is nothing short of an outrageous attack on our very existence. It completely diminishes the monumental journey we have just undertaken, from maiden to motherhood. We're talking about growing a tiny human being inside us for nine months, enduring the challenges of pregnancy, and then going through the awe-inspiring feat of childbirth. And let's not forget the fact that, as soon as that precious bundle of joy enters the world, we're expected to forget our own miraculous transformation and focus solely on our so-called imperfections. Are you for real??
But amidst this madness, Ashley Graham rises as an unwavering champion of self-love and body acceptance. Her recent posts and interviews have made waves, none more powerful than her unapologetic naked photo.
"At 30 weeks, the stretch marks started to creep up. I thought to myself, Okay, Ashley, you can handle this. You already had a few, this is life. You are a champion for all kinds of bodies—who cares? This is going to be a great moment…. But then they started creeping up even more, and you could see them coming out of my panty line, and then beyond my belly button, and I melted…. I was bringing it up constantly to my team. I was like, ‘You don’t understand. I used to be a sex symbol, and now I am a baby-making machine and I have stretch marks up to my belly button. What the eff is happening?’. I had planned to be back at work after eight weeks, but I was a wreck, and when I saw myself in the mirror, I still felt like I looked pregnant. And yet I work in an industry that expects me to return to work in a body that has ‘snapped back’—a pressure that no woman, in any industry, deserves to feel. I have always fought against unfair and unrealistic standards and yet, if I am being completely honest, here I was, expecting myself to snap back.” - Ashley Graham
Graham's post was met with an outpouring of support, as many people thanked her for her honesty and vulnerability. Her message has resonated with people across the globe, as they too struggle to accept their bodies in a world that constantly tells them they are not good enough.
why she’s a role model for self & body love + acceptance
The importance of body positivity cannot be overstated. It is a movement that goes beyond physical appearance and delves into the realm of mental and emotional well-being. When we embrace and accept our bodies as they are, we free ourselves from the constraints of societal expectations and can focus on living our happiest lives to the fullest.
Ashley Graham's journey as a new mother and her unwavering commitment to body positivity make her an a true icon for women, everywhere. Her honesty about her own insecurities and struggles resonates deeply with many, a refreshing and welcoming reality check when we’re living in this crazy era of air brushed, AI and impossibly fake ideals as beauty standards.
The power of sharing her story is creating a sense of unity and solidarity among women. She sends a resounding message that reminds them that they are not alone in their journey, and that every body is innately beautiful and deserving of celebration, free from any sort of shame.
Graham's post-birth experience is one that many women can relate to. The pressure to quickly bounce back and regain a pre-pregnancy figure is something that society often imposes on new mothers. However, Graham's refusal to conform to these unrealistic standards is helping shift this narrative into one that focuses on self care and well-being rather than the size of your waist.
Her willingness to show her stretch marks and discuss her body's transformation challenges the notion that only one type of body is worthy of admiration and for women to love and appreciate their bodies at every stage of life.
changing the narrative, one photoshoot at a time
In addition to her advocacy for body positivity, Ashley Graham's success as a plus-size model is a testament to the changing landscape of the fashion industry. She has shattered stereotypes and paved the way for more inclusivity and diversity on the runways and in advertising campaigns. By being an influential figure in the fashion world, Graham has demonstrated that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, challenging the industry to redefine its standards and embrace a wider range of body types.
Beyond her modeling career, Graham has also taken on other endeavors that align with her mission of empowering women. She is an author, podcast host, and TV personality, using these platforms to amplify her message of self-love, body acceptance, and the importance of inclusivity in all aspects of life.
the bottom line
In a world where unattainable beauty standards reign supreme and women are expected to possess the superhuman ability to morph their bodies back to pre-baby form, like some sort of ‘abracadabra’ magic trick, women like Ashley Graham and the message she is sharing is necessary, which is, all bodies, postpartum included, are beautiful, strong, and magnificent works of art, and should all be celebrated for the UNIQUE beauty they are.
So, let's collectively roll our eyes at the audacity of these expectations and celebrate the beautiful transformation in our bodies that motherhood brings. Because when it comes down to it, our bodies are more than just vessels to "snap back" - they are emblems of strength, resilience, and the remarkable journey of creating life. And that, my friends, is something worth cherishing.
WHATS UP NEXT …
