'It was something that my mom and dad didn't know how to handle': Plus-size star Ashley Graham details the struggle of growing up with dyslexia and ADD

  • The 29-year-old model spoke during Glamour's International Day of the Girl event on Wednesday
  • She explained she was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and dyslexia as a child, and described how it impacted her growing up
  • Explained that giving children one-on-one attention is an important step to help them reach their full potential despite these conditions
  • 'I think that having one-on-one attention is so important, especially with the public school system being so overpopulated,' the model added
  • Ashley then revealed she still sometimes get the same feelings she used to as a child with ADD and dyslexia when she's now faced with a teleprompter

Ashley Graham candidly opened up about struggling with ADD and dyslexia as a child, revealing the conditions still impacts her nowadays.

The 29-year-old model spoke during a Glamour event on Wednesday and looked back on how dyslexia and ADD affected her growing up.

She then pointed out how education and one-on-one attention can help other children in the same situation reach their full potential. 

Speaking out: Ashley Graham candidly opened up on Wednesday (pictured) about struggling with ADD and dyslexia as a child, revealing the conditions still impacts her nowadays

Speaking out: Ashley Graham candidly opened up on Wednesday (pictured) about struggling with ADD and dyslexia as a child, revealing the conditions still impacts her nowadays

Conditions: The 29-year-old model (pictured aged 12) spoke during a Glamour event on Wednesday and looked back on how dyslexia and ADD affected her growing up

Conditions: The 29-year-old model (pictured aged 12) spoke during a Glamour event on Wednesday and looked back on how dyslexia and ADD affected her growing up

'I was diagnosed with bad dyslexia and ADD, and it was something that my mom and dad didn't know how to handle,' Ashley told the audience.

The model was speaking on the International Day Of The Girl, which was declared in 2011 by the United Nations as part of a youth advocacy effort to 'help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls' lives'.

Ashley thus explained how funding plays a part in making sure students with those conditions get the help they need.

'I think that having one-on-one attention is so important, especially with the public school system being so overpopulated,' she said. 'If we put more money into education and school systems, who knows? Kids like me who get lost in the system, they could be the next president, they could be the next CEO.'

Tough: 'I was diagnosed with bad dyslexia and ADD, and it was something that my mom and dad didn't know how to handle,' Ashley (pictured with her mother) told the audience

Tough: 'I was diagnosed with bad dyslexia and ADD, and it was something that my mom and dad didn't know how to handle,' Ashley (pictured with her mother) told the audience

Measures: Ashley (pictured as a girl) thus explained how funding plays a part in making sure students with those conditions get the help they need

Measures: Ashley (pictured as a girl) thus explained how funding plays a part in making sure students with those conditions get the help they need

Past: The model (pictured as a child) continued her empowering talk by looking back on how the fashion industry once shunned her because of her body shape

Past: The model (pictured as a child) continued her empowering talk by looking back on how the fashion industry once shunned her because of her body shape

The model then revealed she feels compassion whenever she sees someone coping with the same symptoms.

'When I see somebody who has ADD or dyslexia I feel for them,' she said. 'Even when I go to the teleprompter sometimes I remember that feeling. But I have to just shake it off and go back to my affirmations.'

Ashley continued her empowering talk by looking back on how the fashion industry once shunned her because of her body shape, and how she proved naysayers wrong. 

'The fashion world told me I'd never make it as a "real" model, because of my curves,' she said. 'Cut to: the covers of Glamour, Vogue, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue…and last year, Mattel made a Barbie of me. With no thigh gap. And cellulite.'

The model then explained the importance of empowering others, adding: 'I'm not here to make you feel "beautiful", whatever that means. I'm here to make you understand that true beauty is being okay with who you are. Being okay with who you are is a revolutionary act. And making someone else feel okay with who they are? That's downright heroic.'

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