Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruthie Fonseca.
Hi Ruthie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in NYC but moved to Puerto Rico when I am was three months old. From an early age, I knew I had an interest in fashion design, you could always find my sketches in the back of my school notebooks. My dream was always to move back to NYC and go to FIT. While I did apply, I did not get in, however, I did get into the Art Institute in Chicago, and after graduating high school, I moved to the windy city for my Bachelors of Art in Fashion Design. When it came time to do my internship, I knew this was my chance to move to NY, so I only applied to internships in NYC, my family thought I was crazy, but I was determined. I ended up getting an internship at a magazine and that is where my passion for editorial work began. After my internship ended, I went to work for a jewelry designer. I was in charge of her marketing and editorial needs.
After a few months, my boss from my magazine internship called me up to let me know she needed an assistant as she was just hired at a new magazine (People StyleWatch), without thinking about it, I took the job. I can say that to this day, that was one of my favorite jobs! I was the Accessories Assistant and in charge of all the jewelry pulls, and handled the under $100 market, even pitching my ideas to the Editor in Chief of the magazine. Unfortunately, this was a freelance job, and after six months, it ended. However, thanks to the connections I had already made, I managed to get an interview to be the assistant to The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson’s fashion stylist. I landed the job, and after a month, The Duchess decided that she wanted me to be her personal assistant. I got to travel with her, attend some pretty amazing events and even meet Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. It was a world-wind of a job and I still stay in touch with The Duchess to this day. After that, I worked for a PR company which managed all the Victoria Secret models, directed the VS Fashion Show and managed multiple restaurants and fashion brands. I got to attend the VS Show, Heidi Klum’s Halloween Party, amongst other major events.
Following that I moved into wedding planning and worked at a South Asian Wedding Planning firm for eight years. I got to plan wedding all over the world including Dubai, Mexico, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands and more. Towards the end of that job, I decided to move back to Puerto Rico and start a wedding blog, which I ran for about three years. In 2018 Hurricane Maria hit PR and that I how I ended up here in Orlando. I decided I wanted to stay in the wedding industry but wanted to try something different and that’s how I started working at bridal salons and currently, I am the General Manager at Solutions Bridal. In addition to that, I also run my personal website and Instagram, under my name “Ruthie Fonseca” where I focus on lifestyle topics and body positivity, as well as have a podcast called “Unexpected Reality” in which I speak with a different guest each week about life’s unexpected turns and how we have grown from them.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. There have been a few, but Hurricane Maria truly threw me for a loop. Here I thought I was going to start my own business in Puerto Rico, and it was actually going well. Then everything changed overnight. I moved to Orlando, I was 32 years old, and moved in with my younger sister, who had just purchased her first home and was about to get engaged. I was single and jobless. Mentally it did a lot to me. I felt like I was a total failure and having to start over. But I am were I am today because of that, and I wouldn’t change it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
On a professional level, I am the general manager at Solutions Bridal, I also run all our social media accounts, organize our styled shoots and events. My work background has given me a huge passion for editorial work, so I thrive in being creative and providing daily inspiration for our brides. In helping them envision themselves on their wedding day, and even playing a small part of that is so fulfilling. As a plus-size girl, I also love working without curvy brides and showing them that their size doesn’t define them and that they to can have that dream wedding dress shopping experience.
On a personal level, I am a content creator and focus most of my content on Instagram. I specialize in plus-size fashion, body positivity and overall lifestyle. To my followers, I am known for my personal stories. I like to share what is happening in my day-to-day life, whether it be work, dating, or family, I just like sharing my story as I know so many others can relate to it. And I would say that’s what I am the most proud of, when I get messages from people telling me how I inspired them or gave them hope, helped them feel better about themselves or just get through something. That’s actually what inspired my podcast “Unexpected Reality,” wanting to share stories of everyday people and how they have turned their hardships into something amazing.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My community, my friends and family. Those that are with me everyday. Be it laughing or crying, I know I can count on them no matter what. They will support me through all the craziness but also keep me accountable.
Contact Info:
- Email: ruthie.fonseca@gmail.com
- Website: www.ruthiefonseca.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruthiefonseca
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruthiefonseca
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unexpected-reality/id1495750905
Image Credits
Main Photo and photo in black jeans: Liana Danielle Photography
