Rosie Mercado to Inspire at #OH2017 Conference
Rosie Mercado is a plus-size model, fashion designer, celebrity makeup artist, and television personality. She is best known for her work as a plus-size print and runway model, as well as starring in the reality television show Curvy Girls on NuvoTV and as a special correspondent on The Doctors and Dr. Phil on CBS.
Even with all of Rosie’s amazing accomplishments as a plus-size role model, like many of us in the ObesityHelp community, she knows what it is like to experience the numerous problems that accompany morbid obesity. Rosie has struggled with losing weight, childhood bullying, body shame, humiliation, health issues, as well as life limitations for her and her family due to size and health.
At her highest weight of 410 pounds, Rosie decided that she needed to make changes in her life. Rosie had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) and has lost 250 pounds! She's lost weight and gained vitality, freedom of movement, and magical moments with her family. The majority of Rosie’s followers have been supportive of her changes, but she has also faced intense criticisms for losing weight and publicly talking about her VSG journey.
Facing Judgement & Learning to Keep Going
“Not everyone is going to love you. Not everybody’s gonna like you, and I’m okay with that. If people don’t like me, it’s okay. It’s not a reflection of me, but it’s a reflection of them. People will always be judgmental whether I’m 200 lbs or 400 lbs, and they have to live with that. I can choose not to live with that and keep going on my journey. My goal at the end of the day is I don’t want my hips to hurt. I don’t want my knees to hurt. I don’t want to worry about the things that I can’t do. I don’t want a limited lifestyle, and I want my kids to be happy.
Rosie was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Riverside, California, until her parents moved the family to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she has lived the majority of her life. Rosie is married, and lives with her husband and children in Las Vegas, Nevada. She’s the proud mom of her 17-year-old daughter and two sons that are 11 and 9. Rosie is bilingual, fluent in both English and Spanish.
Rosie is an advocate for people to love themselves and their own beauty, and to be healthy. She is one of the pioneers for the Full Body Photo Project which encourages women to get comfortable in their own skin.
