12 Powerful Quotes From Ashley Graham That Will Rock the Fashion World

Updated on April 8, 2018 at 1:13 PM

You don't need to spell out the word "confidence" to Ashley Graham — she embodies it. That comes with experience (she's been modeling since 2001) and career achievements such as landing a Vogue cover and launching her fifth Swimsuits For All collection. Did we mention Ashley also became the first curve model to appear in Sports Illustrated, partners with Addition Elle on a lingerie line, and, somehow, found time to write a memoir?

To list all her fashion accomplishments would be exhausting, which is a sure sign that Ashley is simply a power woman. Case in point: she's become a model turned activist for diversity and body positivity in fashion. She continually champions women of all sizes and shapes while empowering those around her with her words. If you're part of Ashley's 6.1 million followers on Instagram, you know what we mean. With all the wisdom Ashley has bestowed on us in interviews, we rounded up a few of her most empowering quotes here.

"That's something I've always been told: 'You're not good enough because you're plus-size.' I'm not here to ban the word from the dictionary" [but Ashley] prefers curvy or curve (used in a sentence: A record 26 curve models walked in New York Fashion Week last season, including Graham in Michael Kors's show). — The Cut

"Just because I'm not calling myself plus-size doesn't mean I'm not representing a woman who is. I'm giving curvy women a seat at a table that we've never been invited to before — a table with high-end fashion people who have never considered us beautiful." — Cosmopolitan

"I know my curves are sexy, and I want everyone else to know that theirs are too. There is no reason to hide and every reason to flaunt. The world is ready for more curves in bikinis." — Sports Illustrated

"67 percent of the women in America wear a size 14 or larger. 67 percent. Maybe you could ignore those consumers before, but now, thanks to social media, they're making their voices heard. Women are demanding that brands give them what they want. And what they want is to be visible." — Vogue

"My mom has been my role model since childhood and has played a vital role in developing my confidence. She promoted body positivity in our household before it was a movement. Her feel-good attitude toward her own body has shaped my ability to remain positive and self-assured. I could not think of anyone better to join me in celebrating beauty of all shapes and sizes in this campaign. Plus, she's hot and looks incredible in the suits!" — Swimsuits For All campaign

Courtesy of Swimsuits For All | Ben Watts

"Young girls don't have much to look at, curvy women are not on covers of magazines, they're not talked about on social media as much as other celebrities. Jennifer Lawrence is the media's poster girl for curves — she's tiny!" — Time

"Sexy is a state of mind. I use it as a hashtag all the time on instagram ... #SexyStateOfMind." — 5 Minutes With Franny

"There was a moment in my life . . . [when] I wanted to go home, I wanted to go back to Nebraska from New York and I wanted to give up and I was just done with modeling because it was such a hard, cruel world. [My mom] said, 'Ashley, your body is supposed to change someone's life,' and when she said that to me I didn't get it at first. She also told me, 'you have to talk better to yourself' and she helped me understand what affirmations were." — Women's Wear Daily

"You are bold, you are brilliant, you are beautiful." — Maxim

"It was an eye-opening experience for me in that 'Oh my God, I can do anything I want.' When you're given a [Sports Illustrated] cover and you take advantage of it, you can conquer the world. Look at Chrissy Teigen. Look at Tyra Banks. Look at Kathy Ireland. She's a mogul in this industry now." — The Cut

"I'm having a moment, but I've been having a moment a little while right now, and I'm so thankful for it. Not only are you seeing women who have my body shape, who are bigger, who are smaller, whatever; you see the industry changing right before your eyes." — CBS News

"For so long, society placed unfair standards on women, like, 'you have to get beach body ready.' I struggled finding suits in my size that weren't matronly, especially when I was in middle and high school, because traditional swim brands assumed girls with bigger hips, breasts and thighs wanted to cover it all up. Swimsuits For All gave me the opportunity to wear string bikinis unapologetically — even with cellulite and back fat — and also create sexy suits for other women to feel confident." — Refinery29