How the 1st Plus-Size Real Housewives Star Became an Unexpected Body-Positive Advocate for Women of Every Size
Ladies First highlights women and girls who are making the world better for the rest of us.
It’s hard to believe, but since the Real Housewives franchise launched on Bravo in 2006 with its Orange County series, there has never been a plus-size housewife — that is, until now. When last season’s teaser of the spin-off Toronto series was released and featured a visibly plus-size cast member, many folks took notice both offline and online.
Meet Roxy Earle: the fabulous housewife of Toronto. Throughout the show’s first season, Earle took to her Instagram account, where she became an unexpected voice of inspiration for women of all shapes and sizes to embrace their bodies. When we sat down with Earle at the Instagram Uncovered body positivity summit in Toronto, she shared with Brit + Co that, while she was a prior fan of the Housewives brand, she was mostly invested in joining the series as a way of fighting for better representation of diverse bodies.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t have someone [in media] I could identify with,” Earle said. “I think it’s great that young girls and women can see people in the media now that looks like them and they can identify with that. It feels good that I can represent for those who perhaps don’t feel represented.”
Since appearing on the show, Earle has started a hashtag campaign called #MySizeRox, a response to body shamers and people who have a limited ideal of what beauty is. “I stopped listening to what other people thought I should be and just started being myself and started truly loving myself. Through #MySizeRox, I hope to encourage people of all sizes to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin, at whatever size they are.”
Earle has caught the eye of many for her infectious personality and honest, refreshing take on body positivity. So much so, that she was invited to walk the runway during the MacDuggal’s Spring collection launch at New York Fashion Week in September. She’s also been featured in Addition Elle’s latest advertising campaign titled, “Fashion Democracy” where she tagged herself “unapologetic.”
“It’s ironic to think I spent all these years hating on my body only for my body to be the one thing that has encouraged me and made me have a voice,” Earle told us. “I’m done apologizing for my size. I’m no longer taking the blame for things.”
Roxy plans to take her #MySizeRox movement global and hopes to reach even more people in the years to come.
How do you practice body positivity? Tell us @BritandCo.