The Wall Street Journal - USA - Women\'s Fashion (2021-Spring)

44 WSJ. MAGAZINE

What’s the one thing this past year has taught you?

That I needed to slow down—and how grateful I am for my

family, for my son.

What’s the one photo shoot that changed your life?

Being on the cover of Sports Illustrated will go down in history

as the biggest game changer in my career.

What’s the one trait you consider essential to your success?

Being myself, being authentic, being kind.

What’s the one thing that keeps you motivated?

My son is a huge motivator for me but also the community

of women who haven’t felt validated because of society telling

them how [to] look. I just want to keep fighting for them.

What’s the one thing motherhood has taught you?

It’s interesting to understand how little sleep I actually need.

I had no idea that I can actually function on five hours of sleep

constantly. It’s a skill that I don’t recommend.

What’s the one age you would be again and why?

Being a model, I think there’s so much around being young

and being fresh—but I can’t wait to grow older. There’s no way

in hell I’d want to go back in time. I’m excited to go forward.

Who is the one person you would love to have as a guest on

your Pretty Big Deal podcast?

Adele, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez—you know, just to name a few.

Who is the one person you call in a crisis?

My husband—he has this calmness and a patience about him,

and it feels like he can fix anything.

What’s the one thing people would be most surprised to

learn about you?

I have this obsession with tiny houses.

What’s the one thing you are most looking forward to doing

after the pandemic is over?

I miss traveling so much. I can’t wait to see my family in Italy.

What’s the one thing you’d most like to be remembered for?

How I truly embraced who I am, wasn’t afraid to tell my story,

wasn’t afraid to embrace all the “flaws” in myself so that other

people could also see the beauty within themselves.

What’s the one thing about which you most often say,

“Well, maybe one day”?

Maybe one day I’ll do a cross-country road trip and stop at all

the famous diners—that sounds like a lot of fun.

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN MCAMIS

The supermodel, podcast host, activist and businesswoman reflects

on this past year and looks forward to what’s ahead.

ASHLEY GRAHAM

THE ONE SHEET

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Visit wsjmagazine.com/ashley-graham for a video featuring more of our conversation with Ashley Graham.