Women Mean Business Luncheon 2016

Keynote Speaker

Ashley Graham

Model, Designer and Body Activist 

Ashley Graham, 28, was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and discovered in a mall at the age of 12. Her natural beauty and effervescent personality led to her signing with an international modeling agency at the age of 13, launching her successful, diverse career. Ashley has worked in numerous areas of the fashion industry including editorial, catalogue, runway, commercial, television and film. In February 2015, she starred in #CurvesinBikinis, a campaign with swimsuitsforall that made her the first plus-size model to appear in an ad in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit edition. In February 2016, she was selected as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie and also landed one of three covers for the magazine, making her the first plus-size model to ever be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Ashley has also been featured on the covers of Elle Quebec, London Times, Cover Magazine, Style Magazine and The Edit and has been featured in the Shape Issues of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour and Elle UK. She has appeared regularly in several Levi’s, Calvin Klein and Marina Rinaldi campaigns, and her list of regular clients includes Nordstrom, H&M, Old Navy, Bloomingdale’s and more. In 2015, she starred in two highly publicized Lane Bryant campaigns: #ImNoAngel and #PlusIsEqual. Ashley secured an exclusive partnership with swimsuitsforall, for who she will design three annual swimsuit collections with the first launching in May 2016. In January 2016, Ashley was named to Forbes Magazine’s coveted “30 Under 30” list and was featured on the cover of the magazine’s January issue alongside top celebrities and entrepreneurs.

A business-savvy entrepreneur, Ashley has collaborated with Canadian brand Addition Elle on her own line of seductive, size-conscious lingerie. Featuring sexy pieces designed to fit and accentuate women of various sizes, the line is now available at Nordstrom and on AshleyGrahamCollections.com. In March 2016, Ashley launched “Beyond by Ashley Graham,” an exclusive dress collection in collaboration with Dressbarn.  

As a role model and body activist, Ashley is regularly invited to speak at numerous high schools and girls’ groups about body image, self-acceptance and female empowerment. Her first TEDx talk “Plus Size? More Like My Size” was given at TedxBerleeValencia in April 2015. She is also a co-founder of ALDA, a collective of models that represents beauty beyond size and challenges conventional notions within the fashion industry.

@TheAshleyGraham

AshleyGraham.com

Emcee

Lisa Evers

TV Reporter, Host of WNYW Fox5News

Lisa Evers is a general assignment reporter with WNYW-TV/Fox 5 News. You can see her most nights reporting live from just about every possible location in the tri-state area. She often covers crime and terrorism, drawing on her extensive police, law enforcement, street and community contacts. These sources enable her to give FOX 5 viewers inside and often exclusive information during breaking news stories.

While most of her work is in hard news, Lisa’s contacts in the entertainment and sports worlds have helped her land interviews with P. Diddy, 50 Cent and Usher as well as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. She has also hosted some illuminating editions of “Good Day Street Talk,” Fox 5’s public affairs show.

Before FOX 5, Lisa was a general assignment reporter for 1010 WINS. That’s where she developed her love of going live on a breaking news story. In addition to her FOX 5 news position, she also hosts a No. 1-rated weekly talk show on HOT 97 FM called “Street Soldiers,” which is geared to a young, urban audience. This radio show was recently brought to FOX 5 on Saturday evenings. Lisa says what she likes most about her job is that she gets to meet so many different people and be in the middle of what’s happening every day. She speaks conversational Spanish and French.

@LisaEvers

LisaEvers.com