Supermodel Ashley Graham Is 2023 ‘Maxim’ Hot 100 Cover Star, World’s Sexiest Woman

The SI Swimsuit model and mom of three has been a trailblazer in the industry for more than two decades.
Ashley Graham.

Ashley Graham.


Ashley Graham is Maxim’s 2023 Hot 100 cover star and the world’s sexiest woman. No one is more deserving. The brand announced the news on April 17 with a stunning snap and a sweet message.

“The queen of curves is as gorgeous as she is inspirational, whether she’s posing for glamorous photoshoots as the World’s Sexiest Woman or making head-spinning red carpet appearances,” the magazine’s official IG account wrote alongside her cover photo. “Pick up a copy at a newsstand near you or head to the link in bio to read the full cover story. Stay tuned for the full 2023 Maxim Hot 100 reveal.”

The Nebraska native is best known for her groundbreaking appearance on the cover of American Vogue in 2017, when she became the first plus-size model to do so. She landed her SI Swimsuit cover as a rookie the previous year after being photographed by James Macari in Turks and Caicos.

Graham was discovered at the age of 12 at a shopping mall in her home state and the rest is history. The 35-year-old said the best part about modeling, however, is the platform it has given her to advocate for change and diversity in the industry.

“We can look at everybody’s shapes and sizes, gender, ethnicity and age as part of who they are; it doesn’t have to be a negative or a positive,” she told Maxim. “It should be something that’s easily embraced, and we don’t need to be having these conversations all the time. Our bodies are always changing, and they’re always evolving. I’ve been using my own body as a tool to be able to talk about these feelings.”

Graham, who shares three young boys with her husband, Justin Ervin, posted her own behind the scenes snaps of the magazine photo shoot.

The IG carousel included several incredible pics of her in various lingerie pieces, a corporate-esque pantsuit, a dramatic red floral gown and nothing but a large white mesh embroidered cloth.

@maximmag Hot 100, thank you for having me again!🤟🏽❤️‍🔥,” she captioned the post she shared with her 20.3 million followers.

Fellow SI Swimsuit models Emily Ratajkowski, Barbara Palvin, Anitta, Beyoncé, Olivia Ponton, Ellie Thumann, Cindy Kimberly, Paige Spiranac, Anastasia Ashley and Izabel Goulart were also named to the Hot 100 list.

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Published
Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.