Ashley Graham and Other Plus-Size Models Bare All in Gorgeous New Magazine Spread to Promote Body Diversity

"It shouldn't matter if you are a size 2 or 12," model Inga Eiriksdottir tells Icelandic Glamour

Photo: Silja Magg/Icelandic Glamour

A group of plus-size models is making waves in the fashion industry.

Ashley Graham, Marquita Pring, Julie Henderson, Inga Eiriksdottir and Danielle Redman have joined together to form ALDA – which means “wave” in Icelandic – to promote body diversity within the modeling world and beyond.

“It shouldn’t matter if you are a size 2 or 12. Every model should be represented equally,” says Eiriksdottir, who is featured along with the other members of ALDA in Icelandic Glamour. “We had all worked together for many years before our agency closed a lot of their divisions including plus size. We met secretly for a few months, came up with a business plan, and then met with all the major agencies in New York. Most of them had never represented models bigger then a U.S. size 6, so we didn’t know how they would react. It was amazing to see the great response we got.”

The veteran plus-size model – who is now signed to IMG Models along with the other members – believes the fashion world has become more accepting of different body types.

“It’s exciting to see the positive change in the industry, and we already see a lot more diversity in age, size and race than before in magazines and on the runways,” she says.

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Eiriksdottir hopes the ALDA movement makes an impact that extends beyond the superficial.

“Even if it might sound strange since we [are models], which is a lot about the outside looks, we are more interested in building strong self esteem in women,” she tells the mag.