Publications
Partners
First-time mom and body positivity model Ashley Graham is doing her best to navigate the tricky waters of motherhood.
Her motto? If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say it.
The 32-year-old supermodel, who welcomed son Isaac in February, believes moms should be left alone to figure things out for themselves.
“I’ve got a couple of family members who are pregnant, and my instinct is to say, “Oh, do this, do that.” But I stop myself every time, because I remember how I felt when everybody told me what to do and sent me their unsolicited advice and their lists,” she explained.
“If there’s a question to be asked, ask it. But other than that, keep your trap shut and just let that mother figure it out.”
Ashley has journalled a lot about the trials and triumphs of motherhood on her Instagram page and in a recent interview with Elle she delved into the issue again.
“When I got pregnant, I had to reimagine my relationship with my body with this creature inside me taking over. I was gaining weight so rapidly,” she says.
“Then, to get stretchmarks on my stomach, that to me was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I can’t believe this happened.’ At first it felt devastating, and then when I met Isaac, I said, ‘No, this is exactly what every woman has talked about for ages’.”
She has also encouraged other women to embrace their stretchmarks as a mark of honour. “When I look at my new stretchmarks and think of all the changes my body went through, it reminds me that, as women, we are all superheroes.”
Ashley, who is married to videographer Justin Ervin, added
it’s a privilege to not only carry life but to bring a brand new person into
the world.
“It’s such a beautiful thing to be able to give birth, but I didn’t realise it until afterward.”
Sources: Instagram page, Elle, Page Six, Marie Claire
