A plus-size model has been named Maxim’s Sexiest Woman on the magazine’s 2023 list.
Ashley Graham took out the top spot in the magazine’s yearly rankings, released in Maxim’s May and June edition.
Graham was discovered at the age of 12 in a Nebraska mall, before leaving to pursue her modeling dreams.
The 35-year-old has since become the face of the body positivity movement, breaking the mould of what many deem to be “sexy”.
“We can look at everybody’s shapes and sizes, gender, ethnicity, and age as part of who they are; it doesn’t have to be a negative or a positive,” she told Maxim during the cover shoot.
“It should be something that’s easily embraced, and we don’t need to be having these conversations all the time. Our bodies are always changing, and they’re always evolving. I’ve been using my own body as a tool to be able to talk about these feelings.”
During her career, she has been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Maxim and Elle.
Her fame reached new heights in 2016 when she was the first curvy model to grace the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
She said she has had so many career highlights over the time she has been modeling.
“A lot of them started in the early days, though, because of the impact that they made. My TED Talk; being on the cover of Sports Illustrated; my book, which is called “A New Mode”l; my Barbie which was made in my likeness; definitely the multiple amazing covers I’ve had — the Vogues and the Elles and the Bazaars,” she said.
Other women on the list include Australia’s own Margot Robbie and country music star Kelsea Ballerini.
After having her twins last year, Graham posted a photo clutching her stomach.
Graham’s stomach photo was posted without a caption, but the comments were speaking loudly for the image.
One fan commented, “What every postpartum mum needs to see!”
While another fan commented, “We need more realistic models like her.”
Someone else wrote, “Just when I didn’t think I could love you more.”