Ashley Graham is having one helluva year. In February, the 28-year-old model, entrepreneur and activist made history by becoming the first “plus-size” beauty to be featured in an ad in Sports Illustrated‘s annual Swimsuit Issue. Months later, the size 16 model took her body-positive message to the stage, where she spoke at a sold out TEDxTalks in Valencia, Spain entitled “Plus-size? More Like My Size.”
“Dove’s global report on attitudes toward beauty actually did a survey with thousands of women in 10 different countries, and you know what the most striking result was?” she asked the audience. “That only 2% of women find themselves beautiful. 2%. We need to work together to redefine the global vision of beauty, and it starts with becoming your own role model.”
Ashley’s newfound popularity as a role model couldn’t have come at a better time. During New York Fashion Week in September, she debuted her latest curvy lingerie collection for Canadian-based retailer Addition Elle with a lineup of plus-size models who showed the industry that you don’t have to be a size 2 to be sexy. We happen to agree.
To see the top 17 plus-size lingerie models who are following in her footsteps, click on the gallery above.
[ Next: 20 Sexiest Swimsuit Models of All Time ]
Plus-Size Lingerie Models
-
Ashley Graham
Ashley isn't afraid to walk the talk. When the New York plus-size division of Ford closed in 2013, she linked forces with four plus-size models to open ALDA, an organization that aims to break down barriers and promote size diversity. "No man, no job, no friend is going to tell me who I am," she told Yahoo! "I am going to tell me who I am."
Addition Elle Holiday 2015; Image: Getty
-
Tara Lynn
Tara, who is nicknamed "The Body," is best known for posing alongside Candice Huffine and Robyn Lawley for the June 2011 magazine cover of Vogue Italia, shot by Steven Meisel. Throughout her career, she has also fronted ELLE Spain and ELLE France — twice.
Image: @taralynn
-
Quinn Miles
Quinn is a Los Angeles native who's been in the business for years, modeling for top brands like Old Navy and Macy's. Recently, she spoke to Glamour about what she's learned from the industry: “There will forever be people telling you what is wrong with you, and if you are not strong enough, they will convince you of that. I have definitely fallen into that trap during my career, but now I know better."
Image: Courtesy of Wilhelmina
-
Fluvia Lacerda
In July 2011, Vogue Italia put Fluvia on the map with a four-page editorial that resulted in a new nickname, "the plus-size Gisele Bündchen."
Image: @fluvialacerda
-
Philomena Kwao
Philomena may not be a household name yet, but give it time. The London-born model, who has been photographed by Torrid and Lane Bryant, has big plans for the future. "Of course I dream of the ultimate heights of modelling; a Vogue cover, a beauty campaign (Lancome would be a dream), an international mainstream campaign for a store such as H&M, United Colours of Benton or GAP, but it's bigger than that," she told i-D. "Ultimately I would like to use my voice to advance healthcare access around the world."
Image: @philomenakwao
-
Margaret Macpherson
If you follow Dita Von Teese on Instagram, then chances are you know Margaret. The Australian model and makeup artist is one of Dita's favorite lingerie ladies. Most recently, she starred in a new YouTube series called Project WomanKIND, devoted to help women overcome body insecurities.
Image: @ditavonteese
-
Candice Huffine
Candice has appeared in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Italia, W and CR Fashion Book, but there's one remarkable accomplishment that's topped it all. This year, she became the first "plus-size" model to make it into the prized Pirelli Calendar.
Image: @candicehuffine
-
Marquita Pring
Since appearing in the January 2010 V Magazine editorial called "Curves Ahead," Marquita has been featured in Vogue Italia, walked Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2011 runway and appeared in countless ads, from Levi's to Lane Bryant's viral #ImNoAngel campaign.
Addition Elle Holiday 2015; Image: Getty
-
Inga Eiriksdottir
One of the most famous Icelanders in the business, Inga has graced the covers of Vogue Australia and ELLE Germany, become the face of Clarins, modeled in ads for Ralph Lauren and Max Mara and received coverage in major magazines, from Vanity Fair to Vogue Russia.
Image: @ingaerla
-
Denise Bidot
New York Fashion Week Spring 2015 was a career-changing moment for Denise, who walked for both Chromat and Serena Williams' HSN line. "I remember when I started [plus-size modeling] there were two brackets: you could either be the Caucasion [sic] girl, or you could be the ethnic and obviously darker-skinned girl," she told Latina. "There was no room for Latinas, Middle Eastern girls, etc. I created a lane that didn't exist."
Image: @denisebidot
-
Sabina Karlsson
Sabina, an alum from Scandinavia's Next Top Model, began her career as a "straight size" model, walking for designers like Tracy Reese, Betsey Johnson and Jean Paul Gaultier. But she wasn't happy. "I had been struggling the whole time, because it wasn't natural for me to be that skinny," she told Teen Vogue. In 2010, she took matters into her own hands and crossed over to plus-size modeling.
Image: @thesabinakarlsson
-
Jennie Runk
When Glamour's November 2009 issue hit newsstands, Jennie made headlines as one of the seven plus-size models who bared it all. She has since become the first plus-size model to be featured in H&M's swimsuit catalog.
Image: @jennierunk
-
Victoria Lee
Victoria is one of the six sexy silhouettes in Lane Bryant's buzzy #PlusIsEqual campaign, which debuted in Vogue's September 2015 issue. "I’m aware [body diversity in fashion] is a huge task to tackle," she told the plus-size retailer. "But I’m definitely up for the fight.”
Image: @preciousleexoxo
-
Justine Legault
French-Canadian model Justine, another #PlusIsEqual name, broke the industry mold when she covered ELLE Québec's May 2013 issue. The public gave her a resounding two thumbs up.
Image: @itsjustinelegault
-
Jessica Vander Leahy
Full-figured Aussie Jessica is the mastermind behind the Project WomanKIND series on YouTube, which she both directed and edited. "I had been getting messages from people on Instagram and on Facebook wanting body-image advice," she told The Cut when asked about the genesis of the project. "It made me really think that there's a part of this conversation about body image and how women feel about themselves that is missing."
Image: @jessicavanderleahy
-
Stephanie Van den Bergh
Stephanie is a relatively new name on the scene. We first spotted her in 2014 when Models 1, a leading agency in the U.K., handpicked six models from its Curve division to take part in a Spring 2014 promo shoot.
Image: Courtesy of Wilhelmina
-
Saffi Karina
Saffi, a model once dropped from her agency for being "too big," founded Curve Project London, the U.K.'s first plus-size modeling workshop. Her client list includes brands like John Lewis, Speedo, Bravissimo and Debenhams.
Image: @mssaffi_k
