Ashley Graham Talks About Childhood Trauma Over Barbie Doll

Ashley Graham opened up about her childhood struggles due to the lack of Barbie dolls representing her body shape.

Reflecting on how inclusive dolls could have positively influenced her self-worth, she revealed her desire for dolls that resembled her. 

Now the host of the "Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge," Graham has a custom-made Barbie doll in her likeness, with features like "thick thighs" and a "round butt."

Keep on reading to learn more.

Ashley Graham, a passionate advocate for body positivity, recently opened up about her childhood struggles and the impact of not having Barbie dolls representing her body shape. At 35, the renowned model reflected on how a more inclusive range of Barbie dolls could have positively influenced her self-worth during her formative years.

During an interview with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on the "Today" show, Graham candidly shared how not seeing dolls that resembled her led to feeling different and questioning her appearance.

"If I had a Barbie that looked like my body shape growing up, I think my mind would not have been as traumatized," Graham revealed emotionally, per Daily Mail. She vividly recalled staring into the mirror, comparing herself to the unrealistic Barbie figure, and wondering, "Why do I have this and she has that?"'

Graham, the host of the show "Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge," now has a custom-made Barbie doll in her likeness, created by Mattel.

Delighted as she was with the creation, the mother-of-two had a special request in mind to make the doll more authentic and empowering. Graham highlighted the doll's features, "She's got thick thighs. She's got a round butt. She has lower belly fat."

However, the Sports Illustrated model wanted to go further and emphasize imperfections' beauty by including cellulite on the doll. However, the technology or process didn't allow for this specific detail. "The one thing I did ask for was cellulite. But they couldn't do cellulite," she said.

Graham shed light on her journey as a mother and how her perspective on self-image and confidence has transformed profoundly.

She shared that motherhood became a catalyst for her self-acceptance as she experienced the ever-changing nature of her body. She said, "Having kids, my body has been all around. It's been this, it's been that, and then back again."

Graham spoke passionately about her body, stating, "I've just been able to thank my body because I've done so much. And being able to tell my story has enabled so many women to tell their story and to find confidence within themselves."

She added, "I've got saggy skin on my stomach. I've got cellulite all over my body. I've got stretch marks everywhere, and that's ok because my body is my body, and I have embraced it. I want little girls to know that."

On Sunday, Graham captivated her Instagram followers with a post to create buzz for the highly-anticipated "Barbie Dreamhouse" competition series.

The model captioned the post: "Set your DVRs! Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge premieres TONIGHT at 8 pm ET/PT on HGTV. See you there!" 

The engaging video featured Graham striking graceful modeling poses while effortlessly handling pink-colored construction equipment on the enchanting Barbie-themed set.

The background music was set to Aqua's iconic "Barbie Girl," adding a touch of nostalgia and selecting the perfect mood as the HGTV host flaunted her curves in a stunning, skintight, bright-orange cashmere dress, complemented by glittery pink, open-toed heels.

Graham also took to her Instagram Stories to share a YouTube sneak peek at the show's opening moments.

Donning the same form-fitting orange dress with her hair elegantly pulled up into a bun and a single, perfectly curled bang framing her face, the supermodel delightedly emerged from a pink life-size doll box, playfully introducing the eager viewers to the show.