Getty / Kevin Mazur

What do you say to Ashley Graham on one of the biggest nights of her career? That's what I'm wondering as enter a New York event celebrating Ashley becoming the first curve model to front a major beauty campaign [1]. Of course, I'm nervous to speak with such an icon. But as I hold up my phone to take a selfie, Ashley breaks the ice as sweetly as the new best friend you make at a bar bathroom would. "Girl, clean your phone screen," she instructs, and I take the master's advice.

Ashley's waiting to get inked by JonBoy of Bang Bang Tattoos [2], whose talents grace the bodies of celebrities [3] like Bella Hadid and Liam Payne. She's remarkably calm as she patiently waits for her tiny tattoo, which will eventually be the initials "J.E." scripted behind her ear.

It's a momentous night for the model, whose name is practically synonymous with "confidence." Along with making history with Revlon, the 30 year-old's resume includes posing for the covers of Sports Illustrated [4] and Vogue [5]. I wonder what she has to say to all the future Ashley Grahams out there. What would she tell her 17-year-old self, or any aspiring curve model? "Girl, calm down, because everything is coming," she laughs. "It's just a matter of time."

But, even Ashley admits, sometimes words of encouragement from others are necessary. Ashley's moment of inspiration came from Sports Illustrated swimsuit model veteran Kathy Ireland [6]. "Kathy surprised me at my book signing in LA," Ashley remembers. "She said, first of all that she's so proud of me, and second of all, that I can do whatever I want. That's what I preach, but hearing it from someone who is my idol meant so much more to me. In that moment, I was like, I can do whatever I want. It's just so nice to hear it."

She says this all while snapping the fiercest picture my phone's camera roll has ever seen. Here is Ashley Graham's Selfie School 101: "Try different angles. I love a low angle. People thing it's bad, but I love it."

Hey, you don't break barriers by following the status quo! And judging by the final result, the low angle is a risky decision Ashley can totally nail.

POPSUGAR Photography / Alaina Demopoulos