Fresh off of slaying the Met Gala, Ashley Graham went artfully nude for the latest V Magazine. Interviewed by "Blackish" star Tracee Ellis Ross, the iconic supermodel up about her childhood and her model mogul dreams.
Graham explained how her mother inspired her to love her body and pursue her modeling career no matter what.
"I was disgusted with myself," she recalled. "And told my mom I was coming home. And she told me, 'No, you’re not...
…because you told me that this was what you wanted and I know you’re supposed to do this. It doesn’t matter what you think about your body, because your body is supposed to change somebody’s life.' To this day that sticks with me because I’m here today and I feel that it’s okay to have cellulite."
*Formal petition to make momma Graham Body Positive Mother of the Century.*
The buxom supermodel's mom also normalized cellulite when a teenage Graham first discovered it on her body.
"I remember my first signs of cellulite, in middle school. I remember telling my mom, 'Isn’t it disgusting? It’s so ugly.' She pulled her pants down and said, 'Look, I have it, too.' And I was like, 'Gasp!' She looked at me, then at it, and just rolled her eyes. She didn’t tell me that it’s beautiful or ugly. She just made it a non-issue. It doesn’t define my worth. If women like you and me continue to preach that, then I feel like younger girls are going to grasp it and they’re going to be like, 'Who cares!'"
Asked about social media, she noted filters are used too excessively, but that the platforms can also be a tool for empowerment.
"I think there are negative attachments to it as far as the face tuning and flawless face and big round butt and tiny waist...
...but I honestly think social media has been a really great platform for young adults that haven’t been accepted. If nobody in their small town looks like them or is doing the same things as them, they can find people on the internet."
Like all the best supermodels, Graham has her sights set far beyond the world of modeling. She mentioned an admiration for Kathy Ireland's business acumen.
So maybe she'll add billionaire to her resume? With her first book, "A New Model," slated for release on May 9, and the success of her lingerie and swimsuit lines, Graham is definitely banking big on her brand.
To read the full interview and see more beautiful photos shot by Mario Sorrenti, visit V magazine.
