The path to love was not an easy one for Ashley Graham.

In her upcoming book, “A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty and Power Really Look Like,” the plus-size model opened up about what dating was like for her growing up. Glamour magazine shared an exclusive essay from the memoir in it’s June edition.

Ashley wrote:

“Four months into our knowing each other, my now husband, Justin (Ervin), said, ‘I really like you, and I really want to be your boyfriend. Will you be my girlfriend?’ I said yes. But the truth is, I wasn’t sure. One reason: Our first kiss was terrible (To this day Justin says I’m the worst kisser he ever met and that he had to teach me how to kiss).”

Ashley revealed that her first boyfriend, whom she dated when she was 16, dumped her because she wouldn’t have sex with him. This gem of a boy also told her she would end up as fat as his mother. As a result of this terrible beginning to romance, Ashley began dating anyone who thought she was attractive. She wrote:

“I lost my virginity to a guy I barely knew because he gave me compliments like, ‘Ashley, you look really pretty today,’ or ‘I like when you wear your hair like that. When I left Nebraska to start my modeling career in New York City, my dates followed a similar pattern: A guy took me out, then we had sex, then I wouldn’t hear from him again.”

With Justin, though, she did things differently. She wrote:

“My romance with Justin was innocent and sweet. He cooked for me. We went rollerblading and biking; we did karaoke, went to the movies, took an improv class together. Because we weren’t sleeping together — for Justin, abstinence was a firm commitment to his faith — we never tempted ourselves by going over to each other’s apartments late at night. But we’d go to late movies or take walks through the city together.”

Though their relationship has had many challenges, like her grandmother’s disapproval of the biracial relationship, they persevered, and have a very healthy marriage. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model noted:

“I didn’t like my mom and dad’s marriage, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. But thanks to Justin’s constant communication, I envisioned a marriage that was more than just two people loving each other. And now we have that marriage: a partnership dedicated to building something bigger than ourselves.”

“A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty and Power Really Look Like” will be released on May 9.