Ashley Graham celebrated International Women’s Day in a powerful way.
The 32-year-old model and body positivity advocate marked the occasion with a beautiful, intimate photo captured while she was in labor with her son, Isaac Menelik Giovanni Ervin. (We promise, it makes sense with the caption.) The very real portrait showcases the pain women endure to achieve some of their biggest accomplishments and, honestly, it’s pretty powerful.
In the photo, you can see Graham screaming in pain as she rides the waves of contractions. She captioned the image, “This is the face of my greatest strength. The greatest pain I’ve ever known and the greatest accomplishment that I’ve ever achieved.”
She then tied her memorable moment into the significant day, adding, “On this International Women’s Day understand that despite whatever pain or trial we have all experienced as women, we are also strong, powerful and capable of accomplishing greatness. Happy International Women’s Day! Let’s all celebrate our and each other’s strengths today.”
Since announcing her pregnancy, Graham has been nothing but real. She’s talked about her body changes and, once she welcomed Isaac, happily posted photos on Instagram of herself breastfeeding, rocking postnatal diapers and dealing with diaper blow-ups in unexpected places. She even opened up about how she surprised herself and opted for a water birth at home with no medication.
Offering her fans and followers a unique look into her birthing experience is just the latest of Graham’s efforts to highlight the moments of motherhood that not everyone shares with the world.
You keep doing you, Ashley.
