Graham started modeling at the age of 12. In 2001, she signed with
Wilhelmina Models after attending a model convention. In April 2007, she was profiled by Sally Singer of
Vogue magazine. She appeared on the October 2009 issue of
Glamour editorial "These Bodies are Beautiful at Every Size", along with plus-size models
Kate Dillon Levin,
Amy Lemons, Lizzie Miller,
Crystal Renn,
Jennie Runk, and Anansa Sims. In 2010, Graham appeared in a controversial
Lane Bryant TV commercial that banned from prime time on
ABC and
Fox because it was considered too sexy. The commercial received over 800,000 views on YouTube and was covered by news outlets such as
The Huffington Post and the
New York Post. She has modeled for such international designers as
Prabal Gurung,
Michael Kors, Love Mag,
Dolce and Gabbana,
H&M,
Tommy Hilfiger,
Rag & Bone, and
Christian Siriano. In December 2010, Graham appeared in an editorial for
Bust magazine. She appeared in several Levi's campaigns, including Curve ID SS 2011 with Sabina Karlsson, Ana Lisboa,
Marquita Pring and McKenzie Raley, and Boyfriend Collection F/W 10 with
Rachel Clark, Ana Lisboa,
Anais Mali, Marquita Pring and Ashley Smith. Graham has appeared in several
Marina Rinaldi campaigns: Spring/Summer 2012, Fall/Winter 2012 denim, and Fall/Winter 2012 sport. Other clients include
Addition Elle,
Bloomingdale's, Elomi lingerie,
Evans,
Hanes,
Liz Claiborne Macy's,
Nordstrom, Simply Be and
Target. In 2013, Graham designed a lingerie line for
Addition Elle, a Canadian plus-size clothing retailer. She also appeared on
MTV's
Made, as a coach for an aspiring plus-size model. She was the cover model on the June 2014 issue of
Elle Quebec. In 2015,
swimsuitsforall, a plus-size women's swimsuits retailer, featured Graham in an advertisement in
Sports Illustrateds annual
Swimsuit Issue. The ad was part of swimsuitsforall's #CurvesInBikinis campaign. Graham was one of the first plus-size models to appear in the
Swimsuit Issue. In 2016, she became the first plus-size model to appear on its cover
. Graham served as a backstage host for
Miss USA 2016,
Miss Universe 2016,
Miss USA 2017,
Miss Universe 2017, and
Miss Universe 2018. In addition, she was a judge on ''
America's Next Top Model'' on
VH1. In 2016, Graham appeared opposite
Joe Jonas in
DNCE's video for the song "Toothbrush". In 2017, she competed in an episode of
Spike's
Lip Sync Battle against
Superior Donuts actor
Jermaine Fowler. Graham won with performances of
Shawn Mendes's "
Treat You Better" and
Shania Twain's "
That Don't Impress Me Much". In 2017, Graham released a book,
A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like. In this memoir, she provides insight into her experiences as a model and as an advocate for body positivity, Graham hosted the second season of
American Beauty Star in 2019. Ahead of
International Women's Day, in February 2022, Graham and
Joanna Griffiths released
Big. Strong. Woman. at the
Adweek Challenger Brands Summit, a film focused on combating female stereotypes and highlighting female strength. In 2023, Graham hosted the
Countdown to the Oscars red carpet presentation show before the
95th Academy Awards, alongside
Vanessa Hudgens and
Lilly Singh. In March 2025, it was announced that Graham would make her Broadway debut as
Roxie Hart in the musical
Chicago from April 15 to May 25 of that year. In October 2025, Graham designed a clothing line exclusively available at
JCPenney.
Body positivity Graham is a proponent of the
body positivity and the
Health at Every Size movements. In 2016, she became the first
size 16 model to be featured on the cover of
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Glamour described Graham's cover as "bringing
size acceptance into the mainstream". She appeared on the cover of
Vogue in 2017, becoming the first plus-size model to appear in the magazine. Graham has been praised by women on
Instagram for sharing photos showing her
cellulite. In an interview with
Vogue, she said, "I definitely think that my body has changed many peoples' lives. I've used my body as a tool to talk about taboo subjects, such as cellulite or being insecure about lower belly fat—and also [how to] talk life into your body and have an affirmation kind of conversation with yourself. And I know the lives that have been changed: young girls and even women my age who have written me and said, 'I never loved the skin that I was in until I heard your journey'." ==Personal life==