You wouldn’t think that model Ashley Graham has to do much to feel confident, but according to the mum of three, that’s simply not true.
Despite Ashley’s profession, and her willingness to be candid about coversations around body image and motherhood, Ashley has to work at building up her confidence just like everybody else.
When one of her Instagram followers, who described herself as a ‘fellow curvy lady’ asked her the question — “How do you have confidence in your body as a curvy woman?” — Ashley was more than happy to share her thoughts on the subject.
No One Is Immune To Confidence Issues
“Okay, so this is a question I get asked all the time, and that’s fine, because I think that there’s a confidence issue in the world,” the model said in the video.
She believes that this lack of confidence doesn’t just affect the women of the world either — it affects men too.
“It’s not just with women. It’s with men and women, and it goes for thin women, curvy women, and everybody in between, and everybody on the other sides of it,” the 36 year old clarified.
Confidence Doesn’t Come Overnight
Unfortunately, there’s no “cute little pill that you get to take” — building self-confidence requires constant work.
“The short answer is: you have to work on your confidence,” she shared. “It’s not something that comes overnight.”
“It’s not about how you look [either], because I know that when you get to like the ‘goal’ that you want to be, you can still feel empty inside, and not like who you are,” she went on to say in the video. “This is something you have to work on all the time.”
Taking Control Of Your Words Is Key
Her number one hack for elevating your confidence levels? “Taking control of your words”.
“That’s what people call affirmations nowadays,” she joked.
If you’re the type of person to espouse old adages like ‘if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all’ when it comes to other people, it might be time to question why you don’t extend the same kindness to yourself. It seems simple, but the way we talk about ourselves can have a huge impact on our mental and emotional wellbeing.
You don’t have to recite sonnets to yourself every morning in the mirror for positive self-take to be effective either.
“I like to write [affirmations] on my mirror,” Ashley advised. “I like to have post-it notes in my office, [and] I have little things on my phone that are [set as] reminders.”
Watch the full video below:
Main image credit: @ashleygraham
What’s your best advice for feeling more confident?
I agree that ‘confidence doesn’t come overnight’. I believe confidence comes with age and experience and believing in yourself.
Yes confidence is something that has to be worked on all the time.
completely agree, well said
Probably to learn how to love yourself and accept not being perfect.
I’m sorry, but I’ve never been convinced that affirmations actually work.
One day at a time
Marketing and media doesn’t make it easy for women to have confidence themselves
I know what you mean, sometimes it is so difficult to have confidence.
No you need to look at the positives in your life and appreciate yourself.
Don’t stare in the mirror focusing on perceived faults.
I think the people in your life help.
I think the people in your life are genuine ,friends real you are much more likely to be confident.
Good advice
It sounds like good advice and definitely works for her.
Yes indeed!
It sure does and good on her.
Affirmations do not work for me.
She is gorgeous.
One or two really sincere friends will give you more confidence that twenty butterfly friends
I find my confidence come through by accepting your self and believing your self.
Looking after my health is what makes me confident