Ashley Graham shows off her stretch marks in new swimsuit campaign

Ashley Graham isn’t letting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic stop her from celebrating her ‘first summer as a mommy’ or from promoting her latest swimwear collection. 

The 32-year-old mother-of-one took matters into her own hands when it came to shooting a campaign for her new SwimsuitsForAll line, proudly showing off her stretch marks while posing in a bikini in her backyard in Nebraska. 

Ashley, who welcomed her first son, Isaac, in January, took to Instagram to share some of the images from the shoot – which was photographed by her husband Justin Ervin. 

Proud mama: Ashley Graham happily showed off her postpartum body in a new swimwear campaign that was shot in her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska amid the pandemic 

Pose: The 32-year-old mother-of-one, who gave birth to her first child, son Issac, in January, showed off her purple floral two-piece in a behind-the-scenes video

Pose: The 32-year-old mother-of-one, who gave birth to her first child, son Issac, in January, showed off her purple floral two-piece in a behind-the-scenes video

Pose: The 32-year-old mother-of-one, who gave birth to her first child, son Issac, in January, showed off her purple floral two-piece in a behind-the-scenes video

Celebration: In post shared on her Instagram account, Ashley celebrated spending her 'first summer as a mommy' while sharing several shots from the shoot

Celebration: In post shared on her Instagram account, Ashley celebrated spending her ‘first summer as a mommy’ while sharing several shots from the shoot 

Work it! Ashley posted a few videos to her Instagram Stories in which she was seen turning this way and that to show off her latest bikini design

Work it! Ashley posted a few videos to her Instagram Stories in which she was seen turning this way and that to show off her latest bikini design

Work it! Ashley posted a few videos to her Instagram Stories in which she was seen turning this way and that to show off her latest bikini design

‘Some things I love: a cute bathing suit and a backyard shoot with the family!’ she wrote alongside the photos. 

‘We’ve had such great time making the most of this summer in Nebraska and these suits have me feeling great for my first summer as a mommy!’

In the candid snaps, Ashley is seen posing in two different bikinis – both a purple floral number and a funky long-sleeved two-piece that tied under the bust, which she wore while posing alongside a water pipe as her husband Justin snapped away on his camera.   

Ashley’s behind-the-scenes images were met with high praise on social media, and prompted several messages of gratitude from her followers – who thanked her for being such a ‘great role model’. 

‘You’re a great role model and a beautiful woman,’ one person wrote. ‘My son is 2 and unfortunately my “partner” did not turn out as loyal and loving as yours. But it’s wonderful to see your beautiful family.’ 

Others have applauded the model for showing off her postpartum body in a ‘real’ way. 

Teamwork! Ashley, who was shot by her photographer husband Justin Ervin, found some funky locations in her hometown, including the opening of a water pipe

Teamwork! Ashley, who was shot by her photographer husband Justin Ervin, found some funky locations in her hometown, including the opening of a water pipe 

Radiant: SwimsuitsForAll also shared several images from the campaign on its official Instagram, posting photos of Ashley modeling a plunging black bathing suit

Radiant: SwimsuitsForAll also shared several images from the campaign on its official Instagram, posting photos of Ashley modeling a plunging black bathing suit 

Confident: Speaking about the new collection, Ashley explained why she insisted that the images remain unretouched or Photoshopped

Confident: Speaking about the new collection, Ashley explained why she insisted that the images remain unretouched or Photoshopped 

Message: 'I want everybody to know genuinely... I want people to see who I am because everybody has a story,' she told People

Message: ‘I want everybody to know genuinely… I want people to see who I am because everybody has a story,’ she told People

‘Thank you for being REAL!’ one commenter told her. ‘You are beautiful. All these celebrities that seemingly “bounce back” and look like they never gave birth to a child is so unrealistic.’ 

In an interview with People, Ashley explained that she chose not to have the images retouched or Photoshopped before their release because she wants everybody to be able ‘to see who I am’. 

‘There’s always a question of what do you want us to retouch, and what do you want us to take out? And I said, “Nothing,” except [for] a clamp holding up the DIY backdrop,’ she revealed.

‘I want everybody to know genuinely… I want people to see who I am because everybody has a story.’

The model added that she regularly speaks to women who ‘have image issues’ and ‘body issues around confidence’, and said that she wants to show them that they shouldn’t ever have to cover up part of themselves that society sees as flawed or ugly. 

Ashley also opened up to the publication about her changing body, revealing that the shoot helped her to fully embrace her new ‘mom bod’, stretch marks and all. 

Hot mama: Over the weekend, Ashley shared a sweet series of images of her son Isaac breastfeeding while they 'chilaxed' by the pool

Hot mama: Over the weekend, Ashley shared a sweet series of images of her son Isaac breastfeeding while they ‘chilaxed’ by the pool  

Up close: Ashley has shared regular updates about her motherhood journey with her followers

Up close: Ashley has shared regular updates about her motherhood journey with her followers

‘I’ve got more weight on me. I’ve stretch marks, and in the beginning I really had to have a lot of conversations with myself and tell myself [like], “Okay, new body, new mindset,”‘ she explained. 

‘But after this photo shoot, I felt so empowered because I was like, “Yes. I look good. I feel good. This is my new mom bod.”‘

That mom bod played a major role in Ashley’s new SwimsuitsForAll collection, with the proud mother explaining that she worked to design pieces that she knew she would look and feel comfortable in.  

Since giving birth to her first child at the start of the year, Ashley has been incredibly candid about her motherhood journey, sharing all kinds of updates with her followers, from videos of herself pumping to updates about her son’s sleep schedule.  

On Saturday, the mother-of-one posted several images of herself breastfeeding Isaac that showed the mother-son duo lying together on an outdoor sofa, with Ashley explaining that they were doing some ‘after pool chilaxin’.   

In the photo gallery, the model also shared two up-close images of her son holding onto her breast while nursing. 

Back then: Ashley last posed for the swimwear brand when she was pregnant

Back then: Ashley last posed for the swimwear brand when she was pregnant  

Just in time! The previous campaign was released in January, shortly before Ashley gave birth to her son Isaac

Just in time! The previous campaign was released in January, shortly before Ashley gave birth to her son Isaac 

Just a few days earlier, Ashley revealed to her followers that she has started sleep training her baby boy, posting a saucy mirror selfie while admitting that she was ‘feeling herself’. 

‘The face of someone with one week of sleep training down,’ she wrote in the caption, adding: ‘You could say I’m feeling myself.’ 

Ashley’s latest SwimsuitsForAll shoot comes just over six months after she proudly shared campaign images for the brand that showed her posing while pregnant with her son. 

At the time, the fashion superstar and former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model said that pregnancy had given her a new-found appreciation for her body, while explaining how she designed the collection with her new curves in mind.

‘Pregnancy has given me a whole new appreciation for my body, and designing this collection allowed me to truly embrace my new curves and my beautiful baby bump in a swimsuit,’ she said. 

‘I hope this campaign reminds all women that they are sexy and should be celebrated at all stages in their lives.’

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