Ashley Graham: The Lane Bryant Commercial's Controversally Curvy Model Speaks Out

by Erin Donnelly (Subscribe to Erin Donnelly's posts)
Posted Apr 23rd 2010 at 1:28PM

Ashley Graham. Photo: Ford Models

Meet the plus-size model who set off this week's biggest fashion drama.

Curvaceous beauty Ashley Graham is the star who got pulses racing -- and network execs sweating -- with her Lane Bryant lingerie ad, which the plus-size retailer claims was censored by ABC and Fox for having too much cleavage, as we reported earlier.

So just who is this controversial cutie?

Signed with Ford+ Models, the 22-year-old Graham was reportedly discovered at the age of 12 in her native Nebraska and has modeled for Macy's, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's in the past, according to her model bio.

The size 16, 38D model known for her exotic almond-shaped eyes spoke out against the controversy over the Lane Bryant commercial.

"I was very surprised," she told the New York Post.

"The first thing I thought of was Victoria's Secret commercials, and how they're just as racy, if not more racy, than Lane Bryant.

"[The models are] just a lot smaller than what I am. [ABC] can't handle bigger on TV, bigger boobs on a normal-sized woman on TV."

ASHLEY GRAHAM SPEAKS OUT AGAINST COMMERCIAL CANCELLATION

It's not the first time Graham, who claims she wore a size 12 at the age of 12, has talked about the fashion industry's treatment of plus-size women.

"Slouchy [clothing] makes me feel bigger and look bigger," she once said in an interview with Vogue while shopping with writer Sally Singer at Barneys New York.

"Some designers say they're making plus-size clothes, but then they come out with it and it's awful. They don't cut it for a woman with curves. They think plus-size women are boxes."

Despite her good looks, the brunette told the magazine she had faced bullying, with high school classmates taunting her, "You're a fat model. It doesn't count."

Ashley Graham poses for Madison Plus's "Exclusive Ashley Graham Issuu." Photo: Erick Basilio for Madison Plus

According to the Vogue piece, she is also best friends with plus-size superstar Crystal Renn -- lucky! -- and spoke of writing a body image handbook for teenage girls.

"If I weren't a model, I'd probably have body issues," Graham told Vogue. "I'd still be getting the teasing."

Hardly. The beauty also stars in a 17-page exclusive issue of Madison Plus Magazine devoted entirely to her, with colleagues praising her talent and charity work in South Africa. In the online magazine, Graham spoke of the media's increasing interest in the plus-size modeling world.

"Work has definitely been increasing and I do believe the plus size industry is booming," she told Madison Plus. "It is only natural considering the majority of women can relate to this body type. I am surprised this movement didn't happen as successfully in the past. I am very confident that it will continue to grow and show women that every size is beautiful."

WATCH AN INTERVIEW WITH ASHLEY GRAHAM FOR MADISON PLUS

And what about the big bra brouhaha? She has no hard feelings.

"Let's face it, America is getting bigger, and women want to see themselves instead of the image of what society says they should be," she told the Post.

Meanwhile, check out Crystal Renn's statements about the plus-size industry.

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