The reality TV star and powerhouse entrepreneur opens up to The Curvy Fashionista about her journey with self-love, embracing her body, and why representation as a plus size woman on screen still matters.
When Lateshia Pearson steps on the scene, whether it’s at her powerhouse Women Brunch Mississippi or commanding the screen on Belle Collective, you feel her presence. She’s built a brand on visibility, ambition, and authenticity, and in a world that rarely centers plus size Black women, Lateshia is changing the narrative just by showing up fully and unapologetically.
In this exclusive interview, Lateshia Pearson sits down with The Curvy Fashionista to talk about loving herself at every stage, why affirmations keep her grounded, and how she hopes her platform inspires the next generation of curvy girls to take up space without apology.
Lateshia Pearson On Loving Herself Out Loud
“Even growing up, I’ve always loved me. Like, I love me, and I love that for me,” Lateshia shared confidently. “I think my gift is empowering others and making people feel amazing about themselves and in doing that, I empower myself too. I understand that I’m uniquely and wonderfully made. Regardless of if I’m plus size or whatever, I’m going to just show up as me.”
That deep-rooted sense of self is part of what makes Lateshia such a compelling figure on Belle Collective. But even with that confidence, the journey to loving herself in the spotlight has come with reflection, intention, and real self-work.
On Holding Space in an Industry That Wasn’t Built for Her
“Showing up as your authentic self, that’s everything,” she says. “I deal with PCOS. I have my own health challenges. But I don’t let that stop me. Girl, they’re gonna talk regardless, so you might as well show up as you.”
She credits the OWN Network and executive producer Carlos King for taking a chance on changing what we see on screen. “That really took courage and vision, to put a plus size woman at the center of the show. That representation? It matters. And I think it’s inspired others to open those same doors.”
On What Self-Love Looks Like on the Hard Days
“I’m big on affirmations,” Lateshia said. “Literally, I was just walking at the park earlier, speaking into myself. Telling myself, ‘Life is happening for me, not to me. I’m still alive, I have purpose.’ When I feel off, I sit in that moment. I don’t rush past it with toxic positivity. I acknowledge it, figure out why I’m feeling that way, and then I bounce back.”
That ability to pause and reflect is how she continues to pour into others through her mentorship and business work. “You have to be your own cheerleader sometimes. But it’s okay to take five minutes, feel what you need to feel, and then get back to being who you are.”
On Authentic Visibility as a Plus Size Black Woman
“You have to be confident,” she said with no hesitation. “This is me. I love myself. For every one person that hates, there’s a million that love you. People talk about size twos and size 22s. So do you. Be confident, be secure, be fly. Put your lashes on if you need to, get your hair done… whatever it takes to make yourself feel great.”
But beyond the glam, Lateshia is intentional about prioritizing herself now more than ever. “I wasn’t doing that before. And that wasn’t authentic. So now, I protect my energy. I say no when I need to. And I show up for me first.”
On Expanding the Narrative of What Success Looks Like
Lateshia knows the power of her presence, even if it took her a moment to realize the impact.
“I didn’t set out to change the narrative,” she admitted. “I’m just showing up as me. But the messages I get from women? They tell me I inspire them. That they see themselves in me. That means everything.”
She laughed as she got real: “No, I don’t always love wearing Spanx. But I love showing women they can rock a pantsuit, wear their faja, and still get money. You can show up stylish, curvy, and confident and that doesn’t cancel out your power.”
On What’s Still Missing in Plus Size Media Representation
“Curvy women need to know they can shoot their shot,” Lateshia said. “Sometimes it’s about our mindset. We think we can’t go after certain things because of our size. But we have to change that. There need to be more platforms like The Curvy Fashionista that show us what’s possible.”
She also emphasized the importance of actively creating space, not just waiting to be invited in. “We need to see more curvy women being pitched, being booked, being seen. We deserve to be in every room.”
On Inspiring the Next Generation
When asked how she hopes to inspire the next wave of curvy girls, Lateshia lit up: “Just look at me! I’m from a small town in Mississippi with 1,500 people. But I always knew I was meant for more. So, I want every girl watching to know you are not your environment. You can think yourself out of it. Believe with me.”
Her story is proof that you don’t have to wait for permission. “Shoot your shot. What’s the worst that can happen? They say no. Okay, go ask the next person.”
A Love Letter to Her Body
To close out the interview, we asked Lateshia what she would say to her body in a love letter.
Her answer was both raw and poetic:
“I love you. I see you trying. I see you fighting. You are beautiful. You are worthy. The most beautiful creation I’ve ever seen. The way you move, the way you feel… you are magic. And I love you.”
Chatting with Lateshia Pearson was not only empowering, it was fun. Her warmth, her wisdom, and her magnetic energy made this conversation one of the most refreshing and affirming we’ve had. She speaks with intention, laughs with her whole heart, and shows up fully, just like she does on screen. Consider us even bigger fans than before.
You can follow Lateshia Pearson on all platforms @LateshiaPearson_ and catch her every Friday night at 8/7c on OWN’s Belle Collective, where she continues to show up boldly, beautifully, and unapologetically for herself and for all of us watching.
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