If you do a quick search online, you'll find that the average clothing size of a woman from the United States is between a size 12 and a 14. Why is it then, when you do a search of popular clothing stores online, you rarely see models reflecting that average size?
There's nothing wrong with the slender women modeling cute crop tops and high-waisted shorts, but it does seem like there's something missing. Women of all sizes don't appear to be represented, even though clothing lines carry a wide variety of sizes.
As a woman, I can't help but scroll through my favorite online shops and wonder why I don't see more women who look like me. I'm not sure if certain things are going to look nice on me, because I'm not a size 0. I haven't been since elementary school.
Ashley Graham, the first plus-size model to grace the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, is working hard to challenge the clothing industry's standards of beauty.
Scroll down to find out how Graham is changing the world of fashion, and let us know what real beauty means to you in the comments below!
[H/T: Huffington Post]
Ashley Graham is absolutely everywhere.
From hosting the Miss United States Pageant to taking the world of fashion by storm, Graham is the definition of a supermodel.
This wasn't always the case, however.
An ad featuring Graham in plus-size lingerie for Lane Bryant was actually pulled for questionable reasons.
“Victoria's Secret commercials are airing all throughout the day, but when it comes to a Lane Bryant commercial, we have a little bit of extra, you know, overflowing, and then everybody freaks out,” Graham explained to CBS News at the time.
Since Graham's modeling career began, she's been breaking down barriers and putting the beauty industry to task.
Graham believes women of all shapes and sizes should love their bodies, despite their supposed flaws.
The supermodel is no stranger to posting photos of her "imperfections."
Just the other day, she posted this photo to her Instagram with the caption: "A little cellulite never hurt nobody. Stop judging yourself, embrace the things that society has called ‘ugly.’"
Although some have claimed Graham is pushing the acceptance of unhealthy living, the photo has seen a much more positive reaction from men and women everywhere.
Graham's unapologetic body acceptance movement has gained her quite the platform, and she has not put her newfound popularity to waste.
Her incredible TED Talk titled "Plus-Size? More Like My Size" has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube alone.
Graham doesn't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. She still feels that she has a lot of work to do.
"The plus-size industry has been around longer than I’ve been a model, so the fight has been going on for so long, but we’re finally not only talking about it, but making change," Graham explained to the Daily Beast.
Do you believe the fashion industry should stop setting such an impossibly high standard for beauty?
Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to SHARE with the beautiful people in your life!
