Ashley Graham is one of the most relatable models and public figures out there. After becoming the first-ever plus-size model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, she has made it her mission to spread the body positivity message. And since Graham is keeping it real in every aspect of her life, she also held nothing back throughout her pregnancies, showing what it really takes to be a mom.
Being a mom to a boy and 2 twins, Graham is spreading a message that every mom has a right to choose whether breastfeeding is right for them, regardless of society’s expectations.
In a recent interview, Graham got candid about the consequences of being pregnant that every woman goes through but prefers to not be too vocal about. The model said she also considered keeping some things to herself, admitting, “Especially with how your body is changing when you’re pregnant, and stretchmarks, and the saggy skin, formula, breastfeeding. Cause there’s also this whole thing with people telling you how to feed your child.”
Ashley proceeded to explain her experience with breastfeeding: “With my first kid, I was like, ’I can only breastfeed! This is the right way!’ Then I had the twins, and I was like, ’I’m not doing this. This is not working here. Both of you want both of these? This is a lot of work.’ So I stopped breastfeeding when they were 5 months, and I gave them the best formula that I could find… And these little guys are so strong and so happy.”
Ultimately, Graham believes it’s up to every mom to decide between formula or breastfeeding based on their personal experience. She drove her point home, saying, “I don’t think we should be telling people how we should be feeding our kids.”
The model then became even more relatable, sharing her physical struggles after giving birth. She said, “Your body just fills up with nutrition, and the baby sucks it out of you. And then the baby comes out and all of a sudden you’re just fully depleted of everything, so your hair falls out, you get acne, I mean, the weight doesn’t come off.”
Graham explained her candidness, saying, “I like to represent myself as someone who’s just happy with who I am. And I had a journey, like, it is a journey, body confidence, being okay with who you are is a journey… I don’t ever want to lie.” And we’re all grateful for the model sharing her experiences with us, as it makes mothers around the world feel seen and heard.
Preview photo credit ashleygraham / Instagram, ashleygraham / Instagram
I Found Out My Sons Nanny Was Secretly Taking Him to an Abandoned Basement Every Day, What I Discovered There Made Me Go Pale
As I knelt there, holding Liam close, a wave of emotions washed over me—pride, gratitude, and an overwhelming sense of love. Here was my little boy, quietly carrying a dream I had long abandoned, one that I hadn’t realized meant so much to him.
Grace explained that she’d stumbled upon my diary in Liam’s room and, after some heart-to-heart talks, Liam had shared his plan. Despite his age, he’d put his heart and savings into this project, determined to see me smile and reconnect with something just for me.
The weight of everything—my busy schedule, the nights I couldn’t tuck him in—suddenly melted away. It dawned on me that Liam saw more than I ever gave him credit for, sensing my stress and unspoken sacrifices. And instead of resenting them, he’d tried to give something back, something so uniquely thoughtful it left me speechless.
Liam glanced up, nervous but hopeful. “Do you like it, Mom?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
I hugged him tightly, struggling to find words through the tears. “I love it, sweetheart. More than you’ll ever know.”
That evening, I promised to set aside time for sewing lessons with him, to explore this space together, and let this be our haven—our shared secret, a place just for us. The gift he’d given me was so much more than a room; it was a reminder of the dreams worth holding onto and the love that made everything worth it.
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