Plus-size model Ashley Graham has hit out at jabs used to assist people who are keen to lose weight, saying that the move is ‘disheartening’ for body positivity
Ashley Graham has slammed the “disheartening” trend of weight-loss jabs. The model, who became the first plus-sized model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, believes that weight-loss medication is a step in the wrong direction.
In recent years, people have turned to medication to assist weight loss. This includes Ozempic, despite this only being licensed to assist with diabetes symptoms, as well as Wegovy and Mounjaro, which, in the UK, are licensed to help with weight loss, but Ashley feels this is having a negative impact in the modelling industry once again.
The 38-year-old said in a new interview that in previous years, there had been a real step forward in body positivity, but that is no longer happening.
“It’s really disheartening,” she said. Speaking to Marie Claire, the Lincoln, Nebraska, star added: “There was a pendulum that swung that was so body acceptance, positivity, everybody be who they want to be. And now it’s going back this whole opposite way that feels like a smack in the face to the women who have felt like they’ve had a voice.”
However, Ashley said that she’s seen “more movement for plus-size women than some people give the whole industry credit for”. She added: “It goes with the times—and GLP-1s are a time…I know that there are, and there’s gonna still be women who are considered plus size forever.
“This drug isn’t going to wipe out a whole statistic of women.” But while people are turning to medication to aid weight loss, Ashley says that there is still a step in the right direction for body positivity, saying that she has seen social media influencers and content creators of all sizes.
She said: “Seeing that these girls, who were raised on social media at such a young age, are now coming in and they have a platform to say to the younger generation, ‘Be yourself, be who you want to be. If you have cellulite, who cares?'”
Ashley admits it’s important for her to continue to advocate for “women of all shapes, all sizes, and all backgrounds,” a part of the reason she launched her collaboration with JCPenney, which this year drops its third collection. And it’s not just a brand deal for Ashley; instead, she’s a huge driving force behind the collection and its ambitions to expand across the market.
Tonight, Ashley will appear at the famous Met Gala in New York, hosted by Vogue. The theme for this year’s event, which is signed off by Condé Nast’s Global Chief Content Officer and Artistic Director, Dame Anna Wintour, is Costume Art, named after the museum’s latest exhibition, which will see around 400 outfits on display, as well as objects spanning 5,000 years also being displayed.
While the inside of the Met will remain under lock and key with Dame Anna implementing a strict ‘no phone policy’ to ensure secrecy and exclusivity, Ashley will be on hand to help people throughout the evening.
The red carpet is available to watch online via the Vogue livestream. Ashley Graham, La La Anthony, and Cara Delevingne will host the livestream starting at 6 p.m., with Emma Chamberlain interviewing guests throughout the night.
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