Iskra Lawrence

“Phones are interesting objects. Sometimes you wish they just didn't exist.”

“Every agency would mention my hips. I remember looking at the other models and thinking, 'I do not look like these girls.'”

“On a night out, I can feel unstoppable with an eyeliner wing and a bold lip. But I also love that I can still feel beautiful and confident without any of that.”

“When I was a teenager, a mean comment would have hurt me deeply, I've made it my mission to be a role model for young girls and boys and help show them that other people's words or opinions have nothing to do with how beautiful they actually are.”

“My confidence comes from the realisation that, actually, the best you can be is you, learning to accept who I was, what I wanted, and that I was more than my body.”

“Aerie builds you up, and it makes you feel positive. Why don't more companies do that?”

“You don't need to be retouched - because the real you is beautiful.”

“I refuse to let something as insignificant as a size or number on a scale determine how I feel about myself. I am grateful for my body, my health, and the life that I have, and no arbitrary number should have any impact on that.”

“I dreamt of being an Aerie model before I came to New York. That was one of the main reasons I came to New York and wanted to get signed.”

“I live by 'Everything in moderation.'”

“I think everyone who shares a piece of themselves and is open and honest - I think that helps us all.”

“You should be waking up and being excited about what you're going to do today, and your friends and your family, and what you're going to achieve in life.”

“I felt like the sample size was right, and my body was wrong. I basically ended up going into battle with my body, and that's a daily battle every time you look in the mirror. Every time you see an image of a successful model or someone who you look up to who doesn't look like you, you think you're not good enough.”

“I'm happy with myself. I respect myself. And I know that no man, no jeans, no scale, and no booker is in control of my future - I am.”

“There's nothing wrong with having a bad day. Let yourself feel those emotions because every emotion is validated.”

“As a model, I feel a great responsibility, and I understand how an image can make a young woman feel.”

“Invest in brands that make you feel good and that you believe in.”

“Clothing for larger sizes doesn't have to look frumpy and old; it should seamlessly integrate fashion - like Universal Standard.”

“There is a way to disagree with someone, but it doesn't have to be threatening.”

“Instead of waking up and worrying about your thigh gap, wake up and worry about what you're going to achieve today. What can you do, and how can you give back?”