Ashley Graham's Motherhood Mindset Is A Testament To The Women Who Came Before Her

When it comes to getting through the challenges of motherhood, Ashley Graham has a comforting mindset she always turns to. The model is the mom of three young boys – Isaac, born in 2020, and twins Malachi and Roman, born in 2022 — whom she shares with husband, Justin Ervin. Having three boys so close in age is enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed, but when Graham feels like she's about to crash out, she thinks about how incredible women are — especially all the hard-working mothers who came before her.

In an April 2026 interview with Marie Claire, Graham chatted about the messier side of motherhood, including getting bodily fluids on her cream couch and going through "the worst pain you'll ever feel in your life" with an unmedicated labor and delivery. To help, Graham chooses a positive outlook, which could be the key to improving your own mindset and mental health. "Your mindset going into the day is really the majority of it," Graham told the outlet. "If you tell yourself you can do it, you can do it ... All these women did it before. Your sister did it, your mother did it, your aunties did it. You're gonna be fine ... that was the mentality I had."

Moms truly are amazing, aren't they? Graham just thinks about how hard-working, patient, and loving the moms in her life (and throughout history) are, and it helps remind her that she can get through difficult moments, too. And, with having three kids ages 6 and 4 at the time of the interview, those challenging times likely happen often.

It turns out, you're never too old to ask your mom for advice. Ashley Graham admitted that she leans on her own mother's example in raising her three kids, and it shows once again how surrounding yourself with a village is so important for moms. (In fact, maybe if she asked her mom's opinion, Graham could have avoided being on the 2026 Met Gala worst-dressed list!).

"My mom is such a blessing," Graham told Motherly in October 2021. "She's raised three girls — I'm the oldest — and she's just like, 'You got this. You got it. This is just what people do.'" These calm, encouraging words are a stark contrast to others, who might say discouraging things such as, "It's going to be crazy, you're never going to sleep. You're going to be so tired," added Graham. Let's be honest, those negative affirmations help nobody, and there are so many better ways to support a loved one who is a new parent.

Graham also praised her mother in an April 2025 interview with Victoria's Secret. "Where I think my mom really thrives — that I'm slowly trying to adapt — is she is very calm in very stressful situations," Graham explained. For example, if Graham's three kids are fighting, crying, and having accidents (often all at the same time), Graham's mom doesn't let it get to her. "I can feel my blood rising, and that's where I have my 'just look to the north star which is your mother' moment about what she would do," the model shared.