A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like

“Evocative.”  — The Cut

One of the most outspoken voices gracing the cover of magazines today encourages women to be their most confident selves, recognize their personal beauty, and reach for their highest dreams in this wise, warm, and inspiring memoir.

Voluptuous beauty Ashley Graham has been modeling professionally since the age of thirteen. Discovered at a shopping mall in Nebraska, her stunning face and sexy curves have graced the covers of top magazines, including Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, and she was the first size 14 model to appear on the front of the wildly popular Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. The face of brands such as H&M Studio, she is also a judge for the latest season of America’s Next Top Model. And that’s only the beginning for this extraordinary talent.

Ashley is leading a new generation of women breaking ground and demolishing stereotypes, transforming our ideals about body image and what is fashionable and beautiful. A woman who proves that when it comes to beauty, size is just a number, she is the voice for the body positivity movement today and a role model for all women—no matter their individual body type, shape, or weight.

In this collection of insightful, provocative essays illustrated with a dozen photos, Ashley shares her perspective on how ideas around body image are evolving—and how we still have work to do; the fun—and stress—of a career in the fashion world; her life before modeling; and her path to accepting her size without limiting her dreams—defying rigid industry standards and naysayers who told her it couldn’t be done. As she talks about her successes and setbacks, Ashley offers support for every woman coming to terms with who she is, bolster her self-confidence, and motivates her to be her strongest, healthiest, and most beautiful self.

In A New Model, A, Ashley shares the hard-won wisdom that made her an icon:

• Beauty Beyond Size: A powerful philosophy for embracing the body you have and rejecting the industry’s narrow standards.
• An Insider’s Guide to Fashion: Go behind the scenes of high-stakes photoshoots and runway shows, from the glamour of being a Sports Illustrated cover girl to the grit it takes to succeed.
• The Path to Self-Acceptance: Honest, raw essays on overcoming insecurity, navigating difficult relationships, and finding the confidence to pursue her biggest dreams.
• Breaking Down Stereotypes: How the girl from a Nebraska shopping mall became a judge on America’s Next Top Model and a role model for a new generation of women.

Ashley Graham is a world-renowned model who has been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Elle UK, Style Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated, and many other publications. She is a body activist who speaks out about body positivity and self-acceptance, particularly for women. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.