Ashley Graham Biography
Ashley Graham is an American reality TV star, model, entrepreneur and TV show co-host. She is best known for being on the Roku competition series, Side Hustlers. The show will be air its first season on March 1, 2024.
Ashley Graham Career
During her middle school years, Graham and her family relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended Scott Middle School from 1999 to 2002 and continued her education at Lincoln Southwest High School from 2002 to 2005. Despite facing challenges such as being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia during her youth, she began her modeling career at the age of 12 after being scouted by the I & I agency at Oak View Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2000. In 2001, she signed with Wilhelmina Models after attending a model convention, later switching to Ford Models in 2003. Her early career included features in YM magazine, and she gained recognition when Vogue magazine profiled her in April 2007. Additionally, she was also part of the October 2009 issue of Glamour editorial titled “These Bodies are Beautiful at Every Size,” alongside other plus-size models.
In 2010, she sparked controversy with a Lane Bryant TV commercial, receiving attention and coverage from various news outlets. She addressed the controversy on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 31, 2010. Her modeling portfolio includes collaborations with international designers such as Prabal Gurung, Michael Kors, Dolce and Gabbana, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Rag & Bone, and Christian Siriano. Throughout her career, she has been featured in editorials and campaigns for Levi’s, Marina Rinaldi, Addition Elle, Bloomingdale’s, Elomi lingerie, Evans, Hanes, Liz Claiborne Macy’s, Nordstrom, Simply Be, and Target. In December 2012, she was prominently displayed on two billboards in New York for Lane Bryant and was honored as the Model of the Year at Full Figured Fashion Week at the end of that year.
In 2013, she ventured into designing by creating a lingerie line for Addition Elle, a Canadian plus-size clothing retailer. Additionally, she took on a coaching role for an aspiring plus-size model on MTV’s Made. She gained further prominence in the modeling industry, appearing on the May 2014 cover of the international Harper’s Bazaar pre-fall collection and beauty editorial. The following month, she graced the cover of Elle Quebec in June 2014. Her groundbreaking moments continued in 2015 when she featured in an advertisement for swimsuitsforall. Which is a plus-size women’s swimsuit retailer, as part of their #CurvesInBikinis campaign in Sports Illustrated’s annual Swimsuit Issue. This marked her as one of the first plus-size models to appear in the Swimsuit Issue.
In 2016, she achieved another milestone, becoming the first plus-size model to grace the cover of the same issue. Beyond modeling, she served as a backstage host for several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. She also joined America’s Next Top Model as a judge on VH1. In 2016, she starred alongside Joe Jonas in DNCE’s music video for the song “Toothbrush.” The following year, she showcased her lip-syncing skills on Spike’s Lip Sync Battle, winning against Jermaine Fowler. In 2017, she released her book, “A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like,” providing insights into her modeling journey and advocating for body positivity. That year, she was the focal point of the nine-episode series “The Ashley Graham Project” on the Go90 digital network.
Graham expanded her hosting role by presenting the second season of “American Beauty Star” in 2019. In 2022, she collaborated with Joanna Griffiths to release a film titled “Big. Strong. Woman.” at the Adweek Challenger Brands Summit, challenging female stereotypes and highlighting female strength. Continuing her diverse career, she hosted the Countdown to the Oscars red carpet presentation show ahead of the 95th Academy Awards in 2023, sharing the stage with Vanessa Hudgens and Lilly Singh. Moreover, she is a vocal advocate for body positivity and the Health at Every Size movements. In 2016, she made history as the first size 16 model to grace the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. A move Glamour hailed as “bringing size acceptance into the mainstream.”
The following year, she achieved another milestone by becoming the first plus-size model to feature on the cover of Vogue. Graham passionately promotes self-acceptance in terms of body image. In a TED Talk, she engaged in a friendly conversation with her body parts in front of a full-length mirror, embracing and affirming them. Her empowering message includes statements like, “Back fat, I see you popping over my bra today. But that’s all right. I’m gonna choose to love you.” Her openness extends to social media, where she has been lauded for sharing photos revealing her cellulite. She uses her platform to discuss taboo subjects such as insecurities about lower belly fat, encouraging others to engage in positive self-talk.
Furthermore, she acknowledges the impact her journey has had on changing lives, particularly among young girls and women who have reached out to express how her story transformed their perspectives on self-love. Despite her significant influence in the body positivity movement, she expresses discomfort with the term “plus-size.” She argues against categorizing women with this label, as it perpetuates negative stereotypes about their lifestyles, confidence, and body care. Instead, she prefers to embrace the term “my size,” challenging the fashion industry’s persistent use of “plus-size” to describe her.
Ashley Graham Salary
Graham earns an annual salary of about $150,000-$180,000.
Ashley Graham Net Worth
Graham has an estimated net worth of about $10 Million – $20 Million which she has earned through her career as a model.
Ashley Graham Age
Graham was born on October 30, 1987, in Winchester, United States. She is 37 years old as of 2024, and she celebrates her birthday on the 30th of October every year.
Ashley Graham Height and Weight
Graham stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches tall, and she weighs 125 lbs (75kgs).
Ashley Graham Family
Graham is the daughter of Linda Graham. She is the oldest of three sisters among them Abigail Graham.
Ashley Graham Husband and Children
Graham is married to Justin Ervin who is a videographer and they met in 2009 in church. They tied the knot in 2010. Together they have been blessed with three children, whom they named; Isaac Menelik Giovanni and twins Malachi and Roman. She resides in Los Angeles together with her family.
Ashley Graham Husband Justin Ervin Undergoes Vasectomy
Graham disclosed that her husband, Justin Ervin, opted for a vasectomy as they decided not to expand their family further. During the “Milk Drunk by Bobbie” podcast on March 17, Graham, 37, expressed relief that she no longer had to be on birth control. She highlighted that the outpatient vasectomy procedure for men is straightforward and involves minimal downtime. She also mentioned that Justin was even able to go shopping with her right after the procedure. The couple, married since 2010, are parents to three children: son Isaac, born in January 2020, and twins Malachi and Roman, born two years later. While she humorously mentioned the idea of having one more child to have “three under three,” she later confirmed that their family would not be expanding further.
Despite choosing to have three children, she frequently expresses her joy as a mother. She appreciates the lessons her boys have taught her and often shares both the rewarding and challenging aspects of parenting. In February 2022, she posted a photo of breastfeeding her twins, emphasizing how her children have been her greatest teachers. Graham has been open about the challenges of postpartum life, including a miscarriage in 2021, just a month before conceiving Malachi and Roman. She consistently embraces her changing body after giving birth, sharing relatable moments and fostering discussions about the realities of motherhood on social media.
Side Hustlers
Graham has assumed the position of co-host and executive producer alongside Emma Grede for the upcoming Roku competition series “Side Hustlers.” Scheduled to debut on March 1, the show revolves around both Grede and Graham serving as “investors” providing mentorship to three female entrepreneurs in shaping their side hustles into full-time careers. The participants compete for the chance to establish multimillion-dollar companies, with Graham and Grede deciding whether to invest in their ventures by the series’ conclusion. Produced by Hello Sunshine in collaboration with Ally Financial, the show spans five episodes.
Social Media Platform
Graham is very active on her Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages. She has 331.7k followers on Twitter 74.1k followers on Instagram and 4.4M followers on Facebook.