Ashley Graham on GLP-1 Medications and Body Positivity: "It Feels Like a Smack in the Face"

Ashley Graham is opening up about the impact of GLP-1 medications on the body positive movement she's championed for years.

Speaking with Marie Claire about the current landscape of runway bodies and GLP-1 use, the model expressed concern about the direction of beauty standards. "It's really disheartening," she said. "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."

Despite her frustration with what she views as a reversal in progress, Graham acknowledged the strides the industry has made. "I've seen more movement for plus-size women than some people give the whole industry credit for," she reflected.

On the broader use of medications like Ozempic to achieve slimmer silhouettes, Graham offered perspective: "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."

Rather than abandoning her advocacy work, Graham emphasized her commitment to the community she's helped build. "Why would I stop now and why would I get angry about the work I've done?…I put my head down and I focus on the women we've built the community with."

Graham highlighted the new generation of plus-size influencers and creators emerging on social media as a source of encouragement. "There's so many [plus size influencers and creators]…they're all over the place with their sizes and their proportions and how they look and how they're relatable. And to me, that's the coolest part about all of this. 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?'"