History of Ashley Graham in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 1, 2026

Ashley Graham is an American model, television presenter, and author known for her advocacy in the body positivity and inclusion movement. She gained prominence as the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2016. In 2017, she furthered her message by publishing her book, *A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like*.

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Full Timeline

2000: Scouted by I & I Agency

In 2000, Ashley Graham was scouted by the I & I agency while shopping at Oak View Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, marking the beginning of her modeling career.

2001: Signed with Wilhelmina Models

In 2001, Ashley Graham signed with Wilhelmina Models after attending a model convention, a key step in her early modeling career.

2002: Attended Lincoln Southwest High School

In 2002, Ashley Graham began attending Lincoln Southwest High School, continuing her education after Scott Middle School.

2003: Switched to Ford Models

In 2003, Ashley Graham transitioned to Ford Models, continuing to build her modeling career after initially signing with Wilhelmina Models.

April 2007: Profiled by Vogue Magazine

In April 2007, Ashley Graham was profiled by Sally Singer of Vogue magazine, gaining recognition in the fashion industry.

October 2009: Appeared in Glamour editorial

In October 2009, Ashley Graham appeared in a Glamour editorial titled "These Bodies are Beautiful at Every Size" alongside other plus-size models, promoting body diversity and inclusion.

2009: Met Justin Ervin

In 2009, Ashley Graham met her husband, Justin Ervin, a videographer, at church, marking the beginning of their relationship.

May 31, 2010: Appeared on The Tonight Show

On May 31, 2010, Ashley Graham appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to address the controversy surrounding a Lane Bryant TV commercial that was considered too sexy and banned from prime time on ABC and Fox.

December 2010: Appeared in Bust magazine editorial

In December 2010, Ashley Graham was featured in an editorial for Bust magazine, showcasing her continued presence in the fashion world.

2011: Featured in Levi's Curve ID SS 2011 campaign

In 2011, Ashley Graham appeared in Levi's Curve ID SS 2011 campaign alongside other models including Sabina Karlsson and Marquita Pring, highlighting diverse body shapes.

December 2012: Featured on billboards and named Model of the Year

In December 2012, Ashley Graham was featured on two billboards in New York for Lane Bryant and was named the Full Figured Fashion Week's Model of the Year, marking significant achievements in her career.

2013: Designed lingerie line for Addition Elle

In 2013, Ashley Graham designed a lingerie line for Addition Elle, a Canadian plus-size clothing retailer, expanding her influence into fashion design.

May 2014: Appeared in Harper's Bazaar

In May 2014, Ashley Graham appeared in the international Harper's Bazaar pre-fall collection and beauty editorial, further establishing her presence in high fashion.

June 2014: Cover model for Elle Quebec

In June 2014, Ashley Graham was the cover model for the June issue of Elle Quebec, marking a significant milestone in her career.

2015: Featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue ad

In 2015, Ashley Graham was featured in an advertisement in Sports Illustrated's annual Swimsuit Issue for swimsuitsforall's #CurvesInBikinis campaign, becoming one of the first plus-size models to appear in the issue.

2016: Appeared in DNCE's video for "Toothbrush"

In 2016, Ashley Graham appeared opposite Joe Jonas in DNCE's music video for the song "Toothbrush", expanding her presence into the music industry.

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2016: First plus-size model on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover

In 2016, Ashley Graham became the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated's annual Swimsuit Issue, a groundbreaking moment for body diversity in mainstream media.

2016: Sports Illustrated Cover

In 2016, Ashley Graham became the first size 16 model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, an achievement described by Glamour as "bringing size acceptance into the mainstream".

2016: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Debut

In 2016, Ashley Graham debuted on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, marking a significant milestone in her career.

2016: Backstage host for Miss USA and Miss Universe

In 2016, Ashley Graham served as a backstage host for both Miss USA 2016 and Miss Universe 2016, showcasing her versatility as a television personality.

2017: Appeared on the cover of Vogue

In 2017, Ashley Graham appeared on the cover of Vogue, becoming the first plus-size model to achieve this milestone, further solidifying her impact on the fashion industry.

2017: Competed in Lip Sync Battle

In 2017, Ashley Graham competed in an episode of Spike's Lip Sync Battle against Jermaine Fowler, winning with performances of Shawn Mendes's "Treat You Better" and Shania Twain's "That Don't Impress Me Much".

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2017: Backstage host for Miss USA and Miss Universe

In 2017, Ashley Graham continued her role as backstage host for Miss USA 2017 and Miss Universe 2017, further establishing herself in the world of pageantry.

2017: Released A New Model

In 2017, Ashley Graham released her book, "A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like", providing insight into her experiences as a model and body positivity advocate.

2017: CBS News Interview

In a 2017 interview with CBS News, Ashley Graham admitted that her interracial relationship with Justin Ervin, who is black, initially shocked her family.

2018: Backstage host for Miss Universe

In 2018, Ashley Graham served as a backstage host for Miss Universe 2018, continuing her involvement with the competition.

August 2019: Announced pregnancy

In August 2019, Ashley Graham and her husband, Justin Ervin, announced that they were expecting their first child.

2019: Hosted American Beauty Star Season 2

In 2019, Ashley Graham hosted the second season of American Beauty Star, showcasing her role as a television host.

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January 18, 2020: Birth of first son

On January 18, 2020, Ashley Graham gave birth to her first son, marking a significant personal milestone.

July 2021: Announced second pregnancy

In July 2021, Ashley Graham announced that she and her husband were expecting their second child, which turned out to be twin sons.

January 2022: Birth of twins

In January 2022, Ashley Graham gave birth to twin sons at home, expanding her family.

February 2022: Released Big. Strong. Woman.

In February 2022, Ashley Graham and Joanna Griffiths released "Big. Strong. Woman." at the Adweek Challenger Brands Summit, a film focused on combating female stereotypes and highlighting female strength.

2023: Hosted Countdown to the Oscars

In 2023, Ashley Graham hosted the Countdown to the Oscars red carpet presentation show before the 95th Academy Awards, alongside Vanessa Hudgens and Lilly Singh.

March 2025: Announced Broadway debut in Chicago

In March 2025, it was announced that Ashley Graham would make her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago from April 15 to May 25 of that year.

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October 2025: Designed clothing line for JCPenney

In October 2025, Ashley Graham designed a clothing line exclusively available at JCPenney, marking a significant venture into fashion design and retail.