The truth behind supermodel Ashley Graham's unedited naked selfies

Ashley Graham said she wanted to share posts of her post-partum body because people "just don't see those types of pictures enough". Photo / Ashley Graham, Instagram

In a sea of Facetune and Photoshop, supermodel Ashley Graham's Instagram feed is refreshingly real.

A quick glance at her profile – which has 12.6 million followers and counting – and you'll see everything from mirror selfies of the star in her underwear, sweet snaps of her breastfeeding son Isaac and gym workout videos.

Graham's unending realness is part of what makes her so popular with her fans, but does she ever get intimidated sharing raw snaps of her life when it seems like every other image on Instagram is edited?

"The short and quick answer is no," the Commonry ambassador told news.com.au via Zoom from the United States, speaking in hushed tones so as not to wake her sleeping son.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by A S H L E Y G R A H A M (@ashleygraham)

"I really go back to the younger me, and I think about her and I know that she exists in so many other young girls and I think, why would I want to lie to her?

"Why would I want her to see something that isn't a reality?"

Not content with being one of the world's most in-demand supermodels, Graham is also a prominent voice in the body positivity movement.

Giving birth in March last year didn't stop Graham's push to share her real, unedited body in the months that followed.

Graham shared a loving video of her stretch marks and a naked selfie of herself where the model told a follower in the comments that she loves her "big strong beautiful body".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by A S H L E Y G R A H A M (@ashleygraham)

Graham said she had wanted to share posts of her post-partum body because people "just don't see those types of pictures enough".

She said, "We don't see women with millions of followers showing themselves in true reality, I feel.

"I think that I showed it because I want the younger me to see that. It's a part of my journey and a journey of a lot of other women, and I feel like this is beautiful and it deserves just as much attention and love as the quote 'picture perfect' moments that everybody else sees on social media."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by A S H L E Y G R A H A M (@ashleygraham)

Her rejection of the outdated label "plus-sized" is also part of what makes her a good fit for her new role as an ambassador for Australian fashion label Commonry.

Commonry features sizing from 10 to 22, something Graham is passionate about.

"We have a lot of the same values and same beliefs, just about being thoughtfully designed and fit-driven," Graham said.

"I also really like that they don't talk like [using] old outdated language, it's really, truly about everyone deserving to have clothes that fit, that are chic, that make them feel confident."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by A S H L E Y G R A H A M (@ashleygraham)

Graham believes that there has been "monstrous change" in the fashion industry in making clothing more accessible during the past 20 years, but more work is needed.

"It doesn't just start on the runway or at a major fashion [label], but it's through education," she said.

"I really think that fashion schools and programmes need to require exclusive design courses, so upcoming designers can really understand the necessity of size diversity and the grading that happens when you have to go up in sizes."