Ashley Graham admits that wearing swimwear still makes her nervous

Relatable.

Relatable.

Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde

Ashley Graham has always been an advocate of body positivity. The model has used her voice and social media platforms to champion women of all sizes, to discuss her own body issues growing up and to remind us all that even the models we see in adverts and on TV don't actually look like that (case in point: her amazing Instagram posts about cellulite).

But despite being a beacon of body positive light in an often dimly lit industry, Ashley has admitted that even she gets self conscious when it comes to stripping down to her swimwear.

Talking to People Now, she confessed that although she has had a successful 17 year career in the business, whenever she is forced to bare her body it still stirs a shyness in her.

'I mean, of course like any girl when you get to the beach or the pool and you go, 'Oh I have to take my cover-up off, crap.' And you feel like everybody's watching, and then you just go, 'Oh fine, I'll just take it off,'' she told the publication.

It's hard to believe that such a fierce and empowering woman also harbours her own insecurities, but her worries are so relatable that it serves as an important reminder that absolutely everybody has their own hang ups, models included.

And what does Ashley suggest when your confidence wavers?

'All of a sudden you get comfortable and go, 'Okay. Another pina colada.''

Sound advice.

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