Ashley Graham is not just a "plus size model." Honestly, that label feels a bit dusty in 2026, doesn't it? If you’ve followed her trajectory from a 13-year-old girl discovered in a Nebraska mall to a global powerhouse walking the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, you know she’s basically the blueprint for the modern multi-hyphenate.
People love to talk about her curves. They talk about the Sports Illustrated cover from 2016 like it was a lifetime ago. But what most people get wrong is thinking she just "got lucky" with a body positivity trend. This woman is a shark in a silk robe. She’s built an empire on the idea that being "big" isn't a flaw to be corrected, but a demographic to be dominated.
The Victoria’s Secret "Redemption" Arc
Remember when Victoria’s Secret was the gatekeeper of "skinny"? Ashley Graham didn't forget. In 2024, she made her debut on their revamped runway, and by October 2025, she was back as a "Dark Angel."
She didn't just show up; she negotiated.
Graham has been vocal about the fact that she was hesitant to join a brand that historically ignored her size. She told PEOPLE that she only said yes after the brass at VS assured her they were expanding their actual size range. It’s one thing to put a curvy woman on a runway; it’s another to actually sell the bra she’s wearing in a size 44DDD.
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Self-Care or Survival?
Before that 2025 show, she did something kinda wild—she dyed her own hair with a $10 box of Revlon ColorSilk in her bathroom.
Why? Because she’s a mom of three boys under the age of six.
Life is messy. She’s leaning into the "relatable" tag not because it’s a brand strategy (though it is), but because trying to maintain a high-fashion gloss while a toddler flings oatmeal at your forehead is objectively hilarious. She calls it "segments." When she’s a mom, she’s a mom. When she’s in a board meeting for her JCPenney line, she’s a CEO.
The Business of Being Ashley
If you think her career is just about taking pretty pictures, you’re missing the forest for the trees. Graham has strategically pivoted into ownership.
- JCPenney Collaboration: Launched in late 2025, her namesake collection wasn't just a "face of" deal. She’s the Creative Director. She’s the one picking the fabrics and obsessing over the fit of a denim jacket for a size 22.
- Side Hustlers: Her Roku show (now heading into its second season in 2026) proves she’s more interested in mentorship than just being a muse. She’s helping other women turn "passion projects" into real cash.
- The Revlon Reign: As a global ambassador, she’s survived corporate restructurings and industry shifts by being "the girl next door who happens to be a supermodel."
Why the "Plus Size" Label is Finally Fading
We need to talk about the "average" woman. In the U.S., that's a size 16. For decades, the fashion industry treated anyone over a size 6 like a niche edge case. Plus size supermodel Ashley Graham forced the industry to look at the math.
She isn't an anomaly. She's the majority.
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Her TED Talk, Plus Size? More Like My Size, has millions of views for a reason. It tapped into a collective exhaustion. We're tired of being told our bodies are "trends." Graham’s longevity—spanning over two decades now—proves that inclusivity isn't a season; it's a market shift.
The Realities of the "New Model"
In her memoir, A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like, she doesn't sugarcoat the industry. She talks about the "torture" of being weighed, the sexual harassment on sets, and the way agents told her to lose weight even when she was already successful.
It’s easy to look at her 2026 net worth—estimated north of $10 million—and think it was easy. It wasn't. It was a grind against a system designed to keep her out.
What You Can Actually Learn From Her
Success isn't about fitting the mold; it’s about breaking it and then charging everyone else admission to see the pieces. If you're looking to apply the "Graham Method" to your own life or business, here’s how she actually does it:
1. Don't Wait for Permission
She started her own swimwear and lingerie lines because the stuff available in her size was "ugly and grandmotherly." If the market doesn't have what you need, build it yourself.
2. Authenticity is a Currency
She shows her stretch marks. She talks about her "granny panties." In a world of AI-filtered perfection, being human is a competitive advantage.
3. Negotiate from a Position of Value
She didn't just take the Victoria's Secret check. She demanded a change in their "DNA." Know your worth, and don't be afraid to walk away if the partnership doesn't align with your mission.
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4. Diversify Everything
Modeling is the foundation, but the house is built of books, television, and retail partnerships. One stream of income is a risk; five is a fortress.
Ashley Graham didn't just change the runway; she changed the conversation. Whether she’s walking in Paris or picking up LEGOs in her living room, she’s proving that you don’t have to shrink yourself to be seen.
Next Steps for Your Personal Brand
- Audit your "authenticity": Are you hiding the parts of your story that people actually relate to?
- Identify the gap: What is the "plus size" equivalent in your industry—the underserved group everyone is ignoring?
- Build your "Segments": Define when you are the "producer" and when you are the "person" to avoid burnout.