Ashley Young is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Lead Stylist of Bridal Babes, the first size-inclusive bridesmaid gown line. The brand was created as a solution to a problem Young experienced firsthand while planning her wedding. After struggling for months to find the perfect bridesmaid gowns for her best friends, she quickly realized this was a problem that desperately needed a solution. Brides and bridesmaids were seeking curve-hugging, attractive bridesmaid dresses that looked great on women of all shades, shapes, and sizes, but there was not a brand or retailer that could achieve that.

Shortly after their wedding, Young and her husband, Charles, launched Bridal Babes. The positive response to their fashion-forward bridesmaid gowns was instantaneous. Most importantly, Bridal Babes created a new space within the bridal industry that celebrated women of color and plus-size women.

The business has grown tremendously since its inception in 2019. Bridal Babes was featured on Season 14 of ABC’s "Shark Tank," on which the company landed a deal with Emma Grede, CEO of Good American and Founding Partner of SKIMS and Safely. 

Young currently heads up the marketing and production side of the business and taps into her 10+ years of marketing expertise to grow the business. Young has worked for notable CPG brands such as Johnson & Johnson, Nature Made Vitamins, and The Laughing Cow Cheese. She has also managed the federal government's youth tobacco and vaping prevention campaigns.