Ashley Graham shares sexy photos celebrating size diversity in response to Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Ashley Graham (Photo: Via Getty Images.as)
Ashley Graham (Photo: Via Getty Images.as)

As one of the most-talked-about fashion shows aired on Sunday night, plus-size model Ashley Graham shared a powerful reminder of what a more inclusive lingerie show would look like.

As the world tuned in to the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on ABC on Dec. 2, Graham, 31, posted a slideshow on Instagram of plus-size models such as Sabina Karlsson and Precious Lee working the catwalk from her own annual fashion show for Addition Elle. Her subtle shade came with a message the world heard loud and clear: #BeautyBeyondSize.

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#BeautyBeyondSize

A post shared by A S H L E Y G R A H A M (@ashleygraham) on Dec 2, 2018 at 9:12pm PST

Victoria’s Secret has faced harsh criticism in the past for its lack of diversity, but recent comments by the fashion company’s executives concerning transgender models have brought fresh scrutiny to the annual show.

Other plus-sized models and influencers joined Graham to call out Victoria’s Secret’s lack of diversity, as #BeautyBeyondSize and #WeAreAllAngels started trending in support of women of all sizes.

In November, Heidi Zak, co-CEO of ThirdLove, published a letter in the New York Times also condemning the company’s recent comments about women.

“Haven’t we moved beyond outdated ideas of femininity and gender roles? It’s time to stop telling women what makes them sexy — let us decide,” Zak wrote, adding that her clothing company, ThirdLove, was created as “the antithesis of Victoria’s Secret.”

“We’re done with pretending certain sizes don’t exist or aren’t important enough to serve,” Zak said.

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New York Times Sunday, full page letter from @heidi to @victoriassecret – Dear Victoria’s Secret, I was appalled when I saw the demeaning comments about women your Chief Marketing Officer, Ed Razek, made to Vogue last week. As hard as it is to believe, he said the following: “We attempted to do a television special for plus-sizes [in 2000]. No one had any interest in it, still don’t.” “It’s like, why doesn’t your show do this? Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy.” I’ve read and re-read the interview at least 20 times, and each time I read it I’m even angrier. How in 2018 can the CMO of any public company — let alone one that claims to be for women — make such shocking, derogatory statements? You market to men and sell a male fantasy to women. But at ThirdLove, we think beyond, as you said, a “42-minute entertainment special.” Your show may be a “fantasy” but we live in reality. Our reality is that women wear bras in real life as they go to work, breastfeed their children, play sports, care for ailing parents, and serve their country. Haven’t we moved beyond outdated ideas of femininity and gender roles? It’s time to stop telling women what makes them sexy — let us decide. We’re done with pretending certain sizes don’t exist or aren’t important enough to serve. And please stop insisting that inclusivity is a trend. I founded ThirdLove five years ago because it was time to create a better option. ThirdLove is the antithesis of Victoria’s Secret. We believe the future is building a brand for every woman, regardless of her shape, size, age, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. This shouldn’t be seen as groundbreaking, it should be the norm. Let’s listen to women. Let’s respect their intelligence. Let’s exceed their expectations. Let women define themselves. As you said Ed, “We’re nobody’s ThirdLove, we’re their first love.” We are flattered for the mention, but let me be clear: we may not have been a woman’s first love but we will be her last. To all women everywhere, we see you, and we hear you. Your reality is enough. To each, her own. -Heidi @heidi

A post shared by ThirdLove (@thirdlove) on Nov 18, 2018 at 11:04am PST

This isn’t the first time that Graham has been outspoken about inclusivity in the fashion industry.

“We are all real women,” she wrote in May. “I can’t stand it when I read comments that say, ‘Finally, a real woman.’ No matter your size/shape/amount of cellulite — we are in this together.”