Ashley Graham does not hold back when it comes to celebrating her post-partum body.
The plus-size model - who gave birth to her first child, a boy named Isaac, with husband Justin Ervin, back in January - spoke to Elle US as part of their first-ever digital issue, where she opened up about how she's been finding motherhood so far.
"When I look at my new stretch marks and the changes that my body went through, it reminds me that, as women, we’re all superheroes," the 32-year-old told the publication.
"I’m always reminded that our bodies were built to do this. It’s such a beautiful thing to be able to give birth, but I didn’t realize it until afterward. Before I was even pregnant, that was always my hope for women in general, that they could learn to continue to love their bodies through the changes and the ups and downs," Graham continued.
"And then, 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. Then, to get stretch marks 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. This is not just a battle wound. This is something that has changed my life forever, and I’m going to celebrate my new body.'"
In the editorial, which was shot by Ervin at their family farm in Nebraska, Isaac can be seen being breastfed by his mother.
Graham also told her friend, Kristen Bell - who conducted the interview - that she's not letting lockdown get in the way of her glam.
"All these Zooms can be a lot — it’s overwhelming to have so much screen time," she told The Good Place actor. "So why not break it up by switching your makeup? It’s just fun. I mean, what else am I going to be doing? I’m breastfeeding, I’m changing diapers, and I’m doing a new look for each Zoom."
However, she's still not a fan of altering her photos, adding: "When it comes to Facetuning and altering your body — erasing body parts and cellulite and lifting and tightening — I pass on all that."
"I let the fashion industry take over my body for too many years," Graham continued to explain. "The moment I stepped free and said, ‘Enough is enough — I’m going to do what I want,’ is when I started seeing changes, not only in my personal life but in my professional life. But it really takes hard work."
Read the entire interview here.