Exclusive: Ashley Graham talks lingerie, body size and Addition Elle

We are huge fans of Ashley Graham on Flavourmag. Her #IAMSIZESEXY campaign is a breath of fresh air for women all of the globe.

With the launch of the Ashley Graham lingerie line in full swing and enough social media followers to give some of the hollywood stars a run for their money. We managed to get pull Ashley away from her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions.

For those us of in UK out of the loop, tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Ashley Graham. I’m a model, designer and body activist. @TheAshleyGraham

Do you plan on a visit to the UK again anytime soon?
I love the UK and was there a few times this year! I hope to be back soon.

You’ve launched your new line of lingerie with Addition Elle for curvy girls, how did this all come about?
When I would shop for lingerie I could find supportive bras and I could find sexy bras, but I could never find a bra line that did both. A lot of lingerie lines don’t go past a certain size, and I felt like there were a lot of other women, like myself, who wanted sexy and supportive bras so I decided…why not create my own line!

I had worked with Addition Elle in the past and approached their VP of Marketing, Roslyn Griner, to figure out how to execute this idea. Addition Elle was so supportive and helped me figure out how to design a line of lingerie that offered comfort, support and the right amount of sexy.

Do you have a favourite piece from your collection? 
From the Modern Boudoir collection, my favourite piece is the Padded Half Cup Bra. The bra itself has removable bondage straps, so you get that really sexy and playful look, and the peak-a-boo geometric lace pattern is super provocative. I love this piece because you can actually wear it with a white blazer or shirt and have the straps show a little to add a bit of flare and edge to an everyday look.

What made you decided on lingerie rather than clothing i.e dresses etc?
Every outfit starts with a good bra! I believe that your undergarments should be given just as much attention as your other pieces of clothing. I saw a void in the market for lingerie for curvy women, and I knew I could design a great product with Addition Elle.

Is there an outerwear line in the pipeline?
You’ll have to stay tuned!

You are very beautiful, did you ever think that you would be you who you are today, when you was growing up?
I started modelling at age 12, and my career really took off. I’m very fortunate that I love what I do and that my career has given me a platform to encourage other women to love their bodies.

You are an icon for curvy girls all over the world. Do you ever feel pressured by this responsibility?
There’s definitely a lot of responsibility

We love all of your quotes and hashtags, we think all women whether slim, tall or short or curvy can relate. How has your followers taken to this? 
My followers are great! They help me promote my message by tagging their photos with my favourite hashtags like #BeautyBeyondSize and #IamSizeSexy.

Tell us 3 things that make you feel sexy!
My husband, my curves, and of course wearing my lingerie around the house!

What can we expect from Ashley Graham in 2016
More amazing collections with Addition Elle, and I have my own workout video series in production called Curvy Fit Club. There are more fun projects in the works, but I can’t reveal them quite yet.

And tell us something you have never said in any other interview before.
Recently I’ve been doing a lot of public speaking, including giving my first TEDx Talk. Right before I go on stage, I sing in my head to forget that I’m about to speak to 500 people. I give myself some Beyoncé tunes and confidence!

Follow Ashley Graham NOW, she’s pretty spectacular.

twitter: @TheAshleyGraham
instagram: @TheAshleyGraham
facebook: TheAshleyGraham

Shop the Ashley Graham collection at Navabi.co.uk

p.s. You may remember our facebook post earlier this year that went viral. See below.