CeCe Meets Ashley Graham (The Plus Size Model)….

Sunday Brunch is one of my favorite things; especially in New York City where it often includes unlimited champagne and/or mimosas.

After church this past Sunday, my friend Maya and I decided to have brunch on the Upper West Side. I was catching her up on the new guy when a group of people walked into the restaurant. One of the girls among them was really pretty with long hair, a Miu Miu bag and a black summer dress.

“I know her…” I said to Maya as the group sat down at a table across from us. I began to go through my mental Rolodex to see how I knew her. Did we have a mutual friend? Had we attended an event together? Then it hit me… “she’s a model!” I said, snapping my fingers as it all clicked. Maya casually turned around, “Oh yeah, she looks really familiar!”

I was so busy taking her in… her style, her hair and her amazingly curvy body that I didn’t realize she was looking right back at me. I smiled (out of embarrassment) and she smiled back. Before I knew it, I was mouthing across the restaurant Are you a model? She nodded politely and then I went back to my food so I wouldn’t seem like a stalker.

The more I thought about it, things began to sink in. She wasn’t just any Plus Size model, she was Ashley Graham, the model at the center of the Lane Bryant vs. Network Television controversy. Living in New York I see celebs all the time and with all of the New York Fashion Week and Full Figured Fashion Week events I’ve been invited to this year, I’m pretty calm around my favorite models, but for some reason I really wanted to say hello to her.

On my way out, I took a deep breath and stopped at her table. I noticed that she had her Bible next to her purse. I wanted to say Did you just come from church? I just came from church too! but that would have been pretty corny, so instead I said:

“Hi, I’m CeCe… would it be possible for me to take a photo of you for my blog?”

“Hi, CeCe. I’m Ashley… of course!” she stood up, flipped her hair and was effortlessly glamorous as I snapped a photo on my iPhone.

Isn’t she pretty?!

♥ ♥ ♥