We sat down with Ashley Graham—superstar and mom-of-three—to discuss all things parenting, making time for yourself, routine, balance, and much more. Scroll to see how she does it all and somehow makes it look easy and effortless.

How do you find balance?

“My theory is that you have to take life in segments. If you can say ‘Right now, I’m being a mom. Right now, I am being a model. Right now, I am leaning into the board meeting and I’m giving it my all.’ And you show up in those moments, then it can perceive to be a balance. I think there needs to be organization—there needs to be a team effort. My husband and I work very hard together to align calendars. There’re three little boys in our life that take priority, and if he and I are not communicating and on the same page, then everything just goes awry. So, if it looks like there’s balance, that’s awesome, but there are so many days that there is not balance at all and we just lean into the wild wackiness of our lives and that’s what we call life.”

What’s some advice you would give to new mothers?

“First thing I would tell you is yes, you can do anything. Don’t let anyone in your family tell you that you can’t. Secondly, yes, you are going to be tired—the myth is real. And thirdly, less is more when it comes to buying products. You don’t need all of the gadgets and gizmos. The baby just wants you, and maybe your boob or a bottle.”

What has your mom taught you that has influenced your own parenting?

“Oh my gosh, my mom. Where I think my mom really thrives—that I’m slowly trying to adapt—is she is very calm in very stressful situations. Let me paint the whole picture: Three kids, all at the island in the kitchen. There’s food being flung, someone might be crying because they didn’t get the dinosaur they wanted in the morning, somebody didn’t get the oatmeal they wanted, and then someone else is like, I’m not eating because I’m not hungry. Maybe someone had an accident in their underwear. That’s where my mother thrives. I can feel my blood rising, and that’s where I have my ‘just look to the north star which is your mother’ moment about what she would do.”

How do you make time for you?

“My whole life is about prep, and that is really what makes me feel like I’ve put some time into myself. I think it’s very essential as a parent to make time for yourself. It starts with the little things—whether it’s setting the coffee the night before so all I have to do is at 6AM is push the button, or knowing that I’ve got 15 minutes while they’re in the bath (and we’re all in the bathroom together, it doesn’t matter), I’m doing my skincare routine.”

With body changes during and post-pregnancy, what do you do to feel confident?

“My body changed way more than I ever expected it to. I also had three children within two years. Things that have made me feel still really confident about my body when it comes to clothes is a really great-fitting bra. I think if my boobs are underneath my chin and they don’t move, I’m going to feel great.”

Can you give new moms a pep talk?

“I know you just had that baby, and that baby will not stop crying. You don’t have a schedule, there’s no set system, there’s no book that’s been able to help you. It’s okay. Guess what? You’re not alone, we’ve been there, there are people who have done it before you, and you are going to get through this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

What makes you feel most comfortable?

“I used to be a thong girl, now I’m a granny-panty girl. We’re always fashionable, we’re always want to feel like we can leave the house appropriately, but with comfort. That’s what I lean in to.”