Conversations with Royal Shurn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Royal Shurn.

Hi Royal, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was in 2nd grade when I was walking to my desk and this kid yelled out loud “do you feel that earthquake. Referring to me being fat. Everyone laughed at me while I cried. I cried myself to sleep for two weeks. That was just one of the many situations that stuck with me about being plus size. Growing up it was fat joke, after fat joke. It made me very insecure. I used to avoid mirrors because I just labeled myself as “fat” I was a junior in high school when my late grandfather sat me down and told me I was beautiful. At first, I did not believe him because he was blind. But he kept repeating it so, one day I finally looked in the mirror for the first time in two years and realized that there was so much more to me then just my weight. My weight isn’t what makes me beautiful. I do. So I started to buy clothes, I started play with makeup and I started really looking into myself and doing soul searching. I found a new love for myself and my body. I look at myself with a new lens. I got an inbox from a photographer who is in Kc and he asked me to model for his brand. I never looked at myself as a model but I said yes because I wanted to be outside my comfort zone. I did my first photoshoot and when I look at those pictures, that opened up a new layer of self-love for myself. I found what the true meaning of Confidence was.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. I have always thought outside the box, I was misunderstood by a lot of people in my life. Family, friends, coaches, etc. I had a family member’s body shame me and laugh at my dreams. I had a coach body shame me, and laugh at me and said what I was doing was a waste of time. I had friends who thought since I was bigger, I couldn’t make it as far as them. So when you don’t feel the support, it gets very lonely. It really messed with me mentally but I had to learn that how to encourage and motivate myself because I did not have anyone who really believed in me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What I am most proud of is inspiring plus-size women. I am known most for connecting women to resources. I have found the freedom to express myself and live in my truth.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up. I was a huge tomboy. I played three different sports. My life revolves around sports and school. I didn’t know there were things outside of that. I was rebellious, spontaneous and very outspoken. I had a spirit that did not well into tradition. I always wanted to be different in the way I expressed myself. In that same breathe, I was very insecure in my appearance.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/_royalshurn?r=nametag

Image Credits
Rick Assault Nikka Harris Corey Davis Jamaal Duirty