Ashley Graham

Ashley Graham is an American model and television presenter, recognized for her advocacy in the body positivity and inclusion movement. After appearing in a controversial Lane Bryant TV commercial in 2010, banned from prime time on ABC and Fox due to its perceived sexiness, Ashley Graham garnered public attention by addressing the controversy on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Her early career began after being scouted by the I & I agency in 2000. She signed with Wilhelmina Models in 2001, later moving to Ford Models in 2003.

Vogue profiled Graham in 2007, and she was featured in a 2009 Glamour editorial titled ‘These Bodies are Beautiful at Every Size,’ establishing her as an international designer face. Graham was named Full Figured Fashion Week’s Model of the Year in 2012. In 2013, she diversified by designing a lingerie line for Canadian plus-size retailer Addition Elle and coaching an aspiring model on MTV’s ‘Made.’ A landmark in 2015 saw her as one of the first plus-size models featured in a Swimsuitsforall advertisement in Sports Illustrated’s annual Swimsuit Issue. In 2016, she made history as the first plus-size model on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover.

In 2023, she hosted the prestigious ‘Countdown to the Oscars’ red carpet presentation. Looking ahead, Graham is scheduled for her highly anticipated Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ in 2025. Additionally, 2025 will see the launch of her designed clothing line for JCPenney, marking her continued expansion into fashion and retail.