Ashley Graham, 37, Shows Off Her Real Curvy Body During Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - Photos

"About time there is a full-figured model in the spotlight!" — Ashley Graham sparks wild applause and online frenzy as she dominates the Victoria's Secret runway with her curves, her confidence, and her no-nonsense sass.

Ashley Graham, 37, made a blazing return to the Victoria's Secret runway on October 15, taking the stage at Steiner Studios in New York for the 2025 Fashion Show.

Graham was photographed backstage, preparing for one of the most talked-about moments of her career. Wearing her signature fuzzy socks, surrounded by her glam team and exuding calm confidence, Graham prepped for what fans would soon call the most relatable runway walk in years. And she wasn't there to play it safe.

'There's Gonna Be a Little Cellulite': Graham Gets Real About Representation

Before stepping onto the catwalk, Graham spoke candidly with reporters about what the moment represented, not just for her, but for the majority of American women.

"The stat is that 67% of American women are the size of [sic] 14," she explained. "So I am so proud to be representing that 67% out there." And she didn't hesitate to address the reality of what that meant on stage.

"Things are gonna be bouncing. Things are gonna be moving. There's gonna be a little cellulite here and there, and you know what? I'm owning it. And I'm owning it for everybody that's watching," she stated confidently.

Snacks, Spray, and Fuzzy Socks: Her Unfiltered Runway Prep

Graham also pulled back the curtain on what it takes to walk a runway — not the glamorous kind, but the real kind.

"I put on my fuzzy socks, okay?" she said, laughing. "I have lidocaine for when I have to put the heels on — that's what you spray on your shoes [...] or the bottom of your feet — that's a pro tip for the shoes. And snacks galore."

The backstage photos showed exactly that — Graham in glam, prepping with her team, radiating ease and electricity as she transformed for the night.

The plus-size supermodel didn't just walk. She owned the moment, walking with pride, power, and purpose. Wearing her curves like armor, Graham became the night's undeniable standout — not for being different, but for being undeniably herself.

Clad in a bold black lingerie set and dramatic feather wings, Graham strutted with such confidence and purpose that the crowd could barely contain its roar.

The brand, which was once known for airbrushed abs and thigh gaps, gave the world something else: a woman with cellulite, stretch marks, and confidence.

'She's Gorgeous and Has a Real Body!': Online Reactions Pour In

Viewers watching the livestream and highlights on social media wasted no time making their voices heard. One Instagram fan wrote, "She's gorgeous and has a real body!" Another added, "Real curvy, gorgeous, and attractive woman 😍."

The praise didn't stop there. "She looks gorgeous, her body is beautiful, natural, [a] little more meat on the bones!!! Very proportional, she represents most women 😍," a fan commented.

Others highlighted her relatability and visibility on such a high-profile stage. "Finally, a real body on the runway!! 👏👏👏👏," wrote one Instagram follower. Another said, "I see stretchmarks.... and it's soooo beautiful 😍."

Several Facebook viewers echoed the sentiment. "Ashley is beautiful. I wish I had her body; she looks so healthy," one comment read. "About time there is a [full-figured] model in the spotlight!" said another. One fan stated, "She's gorgeous."

Graham also received praise for her styling. "I love the set she is wearing. Something most women would actually wear," someone noted.

Graham acknowledged the moment with a joyous Instagram post the next day, sharing backstage footage with the caption, "THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!! thank you @victoriassecret for having me 🪽💕 it means to much to me that I get to represent the curvy girls on your runway."

'Hello, I Just Had Three Children': When Graham Fought for the Right Fit

Her runway moment this year came with experience — and with that, the confidence to ask for what she needed. After all, she learned a lot from the previous year.

In a People interview reflecting on her 2024 debut, Graham shared that her Victoria's Secret outfit almost didn't happen.

"The first thing they gave me was this tiny, tiny little underwear, and I said, 'Hello, I just had three children,'" she revealed. "Even though it was like two years ago, but I was like, 'Is there any more we can put on?'"

She asked for — and received — a bodysuit that she described as both flattering and empowering. But it wasn't until the wings were added that she felt the moment click. She said to herself, "Oh yeah, I feel like an Angel. This is hot."

At Home: Dirt, Dinosaurs, and the Beautiful Chaos of Motherhood

Behind the glamor, Graham is a mother to three sons — Isaac, Roman, and Malachi — whom she shares with her husband, filmmaker Justin Ervin. In a 2023 interview with Entertainment Tonight, she revealed what life off the runway looks like.

"Isaac, Malachi, and Roman are like my little dinosaurs," she shared. "They're always asking to be wrestled or read a book, or play with tools outside. It's fun to have the camaraderie of, like, being a big family and just running around."

It's a world far from the flashing bulbs of New York fashion — and one she clearly treasures.

'This Body's Been Around for Centuries': Graham's Unshakable Voice

Graham has been breaking barriers for years. She was the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue, the first to walk for Michael Kors, and the first to land the American Vogue cover. In 2018, she summed up her place in the industry in one unforgettable quote to Glamour.

"When you're the first of something, you are always going to have to answer the hard questions. People aren't going to like you," she said. "People are going to hate you. People are going to be confused by you because you're the new kid in town."

Then came the line that defined her legacy, "But if you ask me, I'm not the new kid in town — this body's been around for centuries and now I've just been given a voice."

'That's the Real Body': Graham's Impact Resonates with Millions

Her appearance wasn't just a walk — it was a statement, a mirror held up to an audience starving for reality.

As one fan wrote on Instagram, in a comment now echoing across the internet, "Let's face it — most of us are like her. That's the real body!"