Ashley Graham tells women to embrace their curves: ‘Back fat, you are my best friend’

‘Find the role model in you’

Ashley Graham has issued an empowering message for women, urging them to love their curves.

Appearing on Lorraine on Thursday, the American plus-size model explained what confidence means to her and how it’s about nobody other than yourself.

“It’s not a pill, it’s not a boyfriend, it’s not a family member, it’s you,” she told the ITV daytime TV host.

“Get down into your bra and panties, look yourself in the mirror and say I love you,” she advised.

“Say: ‘back fat, you are my best friend, thighs you’re so sexy, you can’t stop rubbing against each other.'

“Find the role model within you,” she added.

The trailblazing model also spoke about the pressures that social media puts on young women.

She expressed concern that so many girls place their worth on the amount of likes that they get from social posts and explained that she is constantly trying to negate this way of thinking.

Though the fashion industry is constantly being scrutinised for its lack of body diversity, Graham, who has been modelling for 17 years, explained that she’s never seen more curvy models on the catwalks or in magazines than today.

“We’re finally being looked at as a sex symbol,” she said.

At a size 16, Graham defied tradition by walking the runways for Michael Kors and Prabal Kurung at New York Fashion Week in September and has appeared on magazine covers for Sports Illustrated, Cosmopolitan and British Vogue.

She also recently ventured into fashion design, launching a capsule denim collection in collaboration with Marina Rinaldi which goes up to a UK size 28.