Healthy Living

Celebrity Models Redefine What it Means to Be Beautiful

Ashley Graham: Her mission is to reshape the fashion industry's idea of "beauty"

Ashley Graham rose to fame as a plus-sized model driven by a personal desire to reduce body-image insecurity among modern women. Graham is an accomplished, well-known public figure and was the 10th highest-earning model in the world in 2017, a remarkable achievement for any model. Her mission in life is to reshape the fashion industry’s perception of beauty and challenge the notion that size is the ultimate measure of beauty.

Graham’s recent campaign for designer Rag & Bones’ edgy DIY Project showcases her voluptuous figure. For this project, Graham was given creative control to interpret the brand in her own way. The result was a series of Polaroids that celebrate Graham’s body in an innovative, yet accessible, manner. The avant-garde photos are trendy and cutting-edge, but still relatable for the average woman. Graham has stated that when she models, she always considers how other women will want to look and feel in the clothing she is wearing.

She always emphasizes the importance of stocking inclusive sizes for high-end brands. As Graham suggests, there is a demand for luxurious clothing in all sizes, and designer brands have a responsibility to meet that demand. Regrettably, in many cases, plus-sized women who are willing to spend money on quality, high-end clothes simply don’t have the opportunity to do so. Often, these clothes simply aren’t available in larger sizes. Some luxury brands deliberately choose to restrict their sizes, based on the misguided and offensive notion that offering a wider selection of sizes would diminish the brand’s exclusivity and prestige. Graham is a source of inspiration for many women.

Graham is committed to being open, honest, and authentic in social-media communication. She recognizes the fact that many women have endured similar struggles and experiences with body image. She hopes that, by expressing herself, she can inspire other women to come together and engage in meaningful conversations about acceptance and empowerment.

She recalls that, when she was growing up, she didn’t have any role models that she could relate to. As a model, she hopes other women can relate to her as a source of positivity and motivation. Graham is committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry. She is continuing to expand her empire with public speaking events, a talk show, a book, and a clothing line.

Source: Instagram

Candice Huffine: A size 12 model at the forefront of challenging the standard "plus size" label

At a size 12, Candice Huffine is categorized as a plus-size model. As recently as a few years ago, a plus-size model like Huffine might not have had the opportunity to work in high fashion. However, Huffine is at the forefront of a new wave of models challenging the plus-size label and pushing for more opportunities for curvy models.

Many plus-size models began their careers on straight boards, agency rosters of models sizes 0 to 6, then switched over to plus boards, for models above size 10, after deciding they no longer wanted to endure the stress of maintaining an unnaturally thin physique. Huffine, on the other hand, started out as a curvaceous size 6. After being rejected by dozens of modeling agencies, one agency suggested that she sign a contract as a plus-size model, a distinction for models larger than the industry standard. At the time, Huffine was only 16 years old and the plus-size industry was still relatively new.

Early in her career, her agents cautioned her that plus-sized modeling might not be a reliable way to earn a living. However, Huffine succeeded and proved these naysayers wrong. Her first major commercial campaign was for Lane Bryant, a national retailer of plus-size clothing. In 2011, Huffine was featured in an iconic shoot for Vogue Italia with plus-size models Robyn Lawley and Tara Lynn. The groundbreaking cover was the first to feature plus-size models in ten years and represented a pivotal moment both in Huffine’s career and the broader plus-size movement.

Huffine hopes that her success will pave the way for increased opportunities for curvy women in high fashion.

Source: Instagram

Nadia Aboulhosn: A model and designer making high fashion available for ALL sizes

Nadia Aboulhosn is a model and fashion designer working to make high fashion and street style accessible to all women, regardless of their size. Aboulhosn has designed trendy plus-size collections for Boohoo and Addition Elle and recently launched her own clothing line.

Aboulhosn designs her clothing using material that stretches to fit a variety of shapes and sizes. For years, Aboulhosn tried to convince brands to create collections that included the same designs in a variety of sizes. Eventually, Aboulhosn decided to take matters into her own hands and created her own collection of stylish clothing designed to fit and flatter any body type. Aboulhosn hopes her designs will provide all women, especially curvy women who wear larger sizes, with more options for fashionable clothing. Aboulhosn’s popular style blog and high-profile collaborations in the fashion industry have made her an inspirational fashion icon.

Source: Instagram

Kate Wasley: From eating disorder to one of the first curvy models in Sports Illustrated

Body-positive advocate and model Kate Wasley had to overcome a personal struggle with an eating disorder to become a certified personal trainer and successful model. Wasley is relatively new to the fashion industry, but she’s already masking waves, earning a coveted spot in Sports Illustrated’s iconic Swimsuit Issue and becoming the first curve model for straight-size active-wear brand Lorna Jane. Wasley appeared in Sports Illustrated alongside fellow Aussie model and personal friend Georgia Gibbs.

The two joined forces to launch Any BODY, a platform designed to promote the acceptance of all body types. Wasley and Gibbs felt inspired to join the body-positivity movement after an Instagram photo of the two unexpectedly went viral when a number of people re-posted the photo and falsely accused Gibbs of photo-shopping the image to make herself appear thinner and her friend appear larger.

Gibbs and Wasley took the controversy in stride and transformed the negative personal experience into an opportunity to promote positive social change. The friends share heartwarming photos on a shared Instagram account in the hope that other women will follow their example and accept one another for who they are rather than comparing and shaming women of different body types.

Source: Instagram