Ashley Graham is able to embrace her stretch marks and new mom bod now, but during pregnancy, her changing body took some getting used to.

Graham welcomed her first child, Isaac, with her husband Justin Ervin in January, and spoke about her path from devastation to acceptance regarding her pregnant body in an interview with Kristen Bell for Elles August issue. Ervin shot the gorgeous photos accompanying the interview.

When I got pregnant, I had to reimagine my relationship with my body with this creature inside me taking over. I was gaining weight so rapidly, she told Bell. Then, to get stretch marks on my stomach, that to me was like, Oh my gosh. I cant believe this happened.

At first it felt devastating, Graham said, and then when I met Isaac, I said, No, this is exactly what every woman has talked about for ages. This is not just a battle wound. This is something that has changed my life forever, and Im going to celebrate my new body.