Sports Illustrated surprised the world this February by featuring Ashley Graham, their first plus-size model, on their front cover. Graham does not depict the conventional standards of modern-day beauty, sporting a size 16.

Graham herself advocates for body positivity, for all body types alike.

She hosts TEDx talks titled “Plus-Size? More Like My Size,” where she tells her story of maintaining body confidence in a world that puts down those who don’t fit “the mold.” She describes surviving in an industry that is set on fitting that mold, and how to overcome the barriers.

She is wary of the word “real woman,” choosing to stray from that term altogether.

“I don’t like to use the words ‘real woman,’” stated Graham in her Elle interview, “I like to use the word woman. And I say that because there are so many women out there who are naturally thin, or are naturally curvy”.

She hopes that people can look past her size, and focus on shaping the industry to be less exclusive on their perception of beauty and open the doors to vast amounts of body positivity.

“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,” emphasizes Graham in her Elle interview.

Graham stresses the need for representation of plus-sized woman in the media. Her feature on Sports Illustrated was in her eyes–and many other women around the nation–a tremendous stepping stone in body positivity.

The world is gradually growing more accepting of plus-sized individuals. Stores such as Target are featuring mannequins that illustrate plus-sized women in order to provide better representation to their shoppers. This is to illustrate the national size 14 average for women around the globe.

Even the iconic childhood toy Barbie is working at expanding the beauty horizon, by launching their project “The Evolution of Barbie”.

They have released a vast amount of barbies, ranging in different skin tones, unique hair colors and textures, and a selection of petite, tall, and curvy bodies.

According to USA Today, spokeswoman Michelle Chidoni hopes“”the product line to be a better reflection of what girls see in the world around them”.

With such expansions on the barriers of beauty, young girls are able to start their journey on body positivity. The barriers, while breached, will only continue to expand, allowing advancement in the mind of the “ideal” beauty.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/17/meet-ashley-graham-the-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue-s-first-plus-size-cover-girl.html

http://www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/news/a33586/ashley-graham-nydj-2016-campaign/

http://www.inquisitr.com/2807880/ashley-graham-how-she-embraces-her-dress-size/

http://www.inquisitr.com/2424907/targets-new-plus-size-mannequins-size-8-mannequins-have-company/