Ashley Graham Opens Up About the Difference a Barbie With Her Body Type Makes
Ashley Graham doesn't take her opportunity to be a role model to young girls lightly.
During a Today show appearance on Friday, July 14, the host of HGTV's Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge spoke to Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager about how important it was to get a Barbie in her likeness—curves and all.
"If I would've had a Barbie that looked like my body growing up, I think my mind would have not been as traumatized, and I wouldn't have looked at myself in the mirror and thought, 'Why do I have this and she has that?'" she shared.
The model also noted that she was "such a Barbie fan" growing up but became an even bigger fan when she received a call from Mattel in 2016, with the news of plans to turn her into a Barbie.
Graham let Kotb and Bush Hager play with her doll while emphasizing the great job the toy company did in making sure the Barbie accurately captured her body: "She has thick thighs, she's got a round butt, she's got lower belly fat."
The only thing that Mattel wasn't able to include was cellulite, according to Graham.
Bush Hager remarked that the doll is "beautiful," while Kotb thought it was "cool."
Being vocal about changing the way society views body types that aren't the media standard has always been important to the model. In a 2022 interview with People, Graham spoke about the power of using her platform to spread body positivity. "Hey, if I have to talk about it constantly to wake people up, to shake things up, that's fine. I don't mind—I'll use my body for all of that. Also, I love empowering women," she said.
Next: Ashley Graham Opens Up About What Makes Her Feel Confident in Her Own Skin