Lifestyle Health Iskra Lawrence Named Aerie Role Model: 'I Got Told I Wasn't Good Enough, Aerie Told Me I Was Beautiful Because I Was Me' The model and body advocate is going unretouched for the clothing brand's Spring/Summer 2016 campaign By Julie Mazziotta Julie Mazziotta Twitter Julie Mazziotta is the Sports Editor at PEOPLE, covering everything from the NFL to tennis to Simone Biles and Tom Brady. She was previously an Associate Editor for the Health vertical for six years, and prior to joining PEOPLE worked at Health Magazine. When not covering professional athletes, Julie spends her time as a (very) amateur athlete, training for marathons, long bike trips and hikes. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 10, 2016 04:10 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Aerie Iskra Lawrence is thrilled to lead the anti-airbrushing charge. She’s been named the newest #AerieREAL Role Model for clothing brand Aerie, and will continue to champion body positivity with the retouching-free brand. Lawrence, 25, got emotional as she talked about partnering with Aerie for the #AerieREAL campaign. “I wanted to be part of the campaign so much because I got told I wasn’t good enough and that I could never make it,” she says in a video. “And then Aerie told me I was beautiful because I was me.” The model and director of Runway Riot first posed for the lingerie, loungewear, and swimwear company last year, a dream come true for the model after she was dropped by her agency at age 15 for being too curvy. “I’ve been really privileged to work with Aerie,” she says. “They’re doing something to empower women, to inspire women, to make us feel better about ourselves, rather than playing on our insecurities to try and sell a certain lifestyle.” And Aerie is excited to have her. “Aerie is about embracing and celebrating the real you; Iskra embodies our mantra of challenging conventional standards through her unique beauty and vibrant personality,” Aerie Global Brand President, Jennifer Foyle tells PEOPLE. “We are thrilled to bring her to the forefront of our campaigns.” Lawrence joins curvy model Barbie Ferreira, who led Aerie’s last ad campaign. “Not being retouched in the images is something that’s really important to me,” Ferreira said. “Knowing that that’s what I look like without anyone’s perception of what my body needs to look like. The world needs more women who are so strong, especially a lot of friends that I have.” RELATED VIDEO: Unretouched Beyoncé Photos Have the ‘BeyHive’ Swarming! Lawrence is ecstatic to continue spreading the message to women that they’re gorgeous no matter what. “You don’t need to be retouched because the real you IS beautiful,” she says. “We’re going to challenge the thoughts that you weren’t good enough because you really are.”