text: While many designers, some modelling agencies, and even Vogue magazine have pledged in recent years not to work with models under the age of 16, plus-size model Ashley Graham, 27, says she's been working since well before that cut-off age - and in her underwear, no less. One of the stars of Lane Bryant's new I'm No Angel campaign, the size 16 bombshell recently revealed to Yahoo Style that she's been stripping down to her skivvies since she was 14. 'My first job ever was lingerie,' she says. 'My mom had to sign a petition that said they would airbrush my nipples out.' Scroll down for video . Model role models: Ashley Graham says that growing up, she was told to look up to curvy icons like Marilyn Monroe and Jennifer Lopez . Now in her late 20s, the Nebraska native has made a career of flaunting her voluptuous curves, becoming a regular in plus-size retailer Lane Bryant's ads and making history as the first plus-size model to appear in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue - but there are plenty of other descriptions she prefers over the term 'plus-size'. 'I like curvaceous, sexy, gorgeous hunk o' woman,' she says. AskMen readers seem to agree; the site ranked her number 11 on its list of Outstanding Women of 2015. Trailblazing curves: The star's ad in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition was the first of its kind - no other plus size model had ever appeared in the annual issue . Model figure: Ashley calls herself a 'body activist,' and she works to promote healthy body image . Ashley Graham Lace Underwire Bra and Boyshort Panty . Available at Addition Elle . Visit site . We have to give kudos to Ashley Graham for promoting a healthy body image and letting the world know that you don't have to be a size 2 to be sexy. The underwear model recently launched her own collection of intimates with Canadian company, Addition Elle, and she stars in the ad campaign. Here the self proclaimed body activist posed away in a lace bra and panty set from the new line, complete with flirty little bows and a boyshort silhouette. Add some sex appeal to your underwear drawer with the matching set by clicking right. Then cruise through the edit below for more provocative picks that will have you doing a double take the next time you look in the mirror. City Chic 'Amalia' Contour Lace Bra at Nordstrom . Visit site . Dita Von Teese Lace Full Fit Demi Bra at Nordstrom . Visit site . Lane Bryant Full Coverage Bra with Lace . Visit site . Lane Bryant Bold Lace Balconette Bra . Visit site . Style at any size: Her lingerie collection for Addition Elle includes bras that come in band sizes from 36 to 44 and cup sizes from DD to H . Ashley is glad she's breaking the mold - on Instagram she favors hashtags like #iamsizesexy and #beautybeyondsize, and in her real life she refuses to stick to extreme diets in order to conform to the idea that you have to be thin to be sexy. 'I don't eat [just] almonds and water!' she says. 'I try not to eat fried food. I don't eat dairy,' she adds, but admits that she will occasionally splurge on a bucket of fries. Selfie time: Promoting her Lane Bryant campaign, Ashley captioned this Instagram photo with 'I redefine sexy by stating that Beauty Is Beyond Size!' Subway seductress: The supermodel proudly posted a photo of this ad in NYC with the caption 'On the F train, literally. Can't hide these curves!!!' Popular appeal: On AskMen's list of Outstanding Women, Ashley ranked above fellow models Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne . Ashley is also using her experience in the lingerie market to create bras and underwear in bigger sizes for other curvy women. Her lingerie line for Addition Elle includes bras in sizes from DD to H and underwear in sizes XL to 3X. 'This is the new sexy,' she says.
target: Ashley is now starring in Lane Bryant's I’m No Angel campaign .
  She also has her own line of plus-size lingerie .
  The 27-year-old admitted that her first ever professional job was as an underwear model .