Ashley Alexiss isn’t just starting over. She’s redefining what it means to begin again
Ashley Alexiss’ energy is magnetic. She is part fearless entrepreneur, part free-spirited traveler, and all heart. As a celebrated plus-size model turned CEO of Beauty Is Not a Size and Instagram’s beloved @AshAlexiss, Ashley’s story is not one that began and ended perfectly. Instead, it’s about starting over boldly, bravely, and beautifully.
Just a few years ago, Ashley was riding the wave of success. She had built a thriving swimsuit business that celebrated curves, was married, and was living her dream as a model and influencer. Then life threw her into a storm. She went through a painful divorce, the loss of her business, the heartbreaking death of her father, and a dramatic transformation in her body. It all came crashing down at once.
But this is not a story of defeat. It’s a story of reinvention.
Today, Ashley is starting over with a new look, a new man, a new lifestyle, and a dream wedding on the horizon. “If you told me this was going to be my life with Brodie, and I had to go through everything I did, I would do it all again,” she says with a sparkle in her eyes.
Ashley’s journey has been far from easy. She admits that her first marriage, which began in her early 20s, was something she entered into without trusting her instincts. “He made me feel like I was hard to love, and when he proposed, I felt like that was what I was supposed to do.”
Ashley recalls, “Two or three months into the marriage, I was already looking into an annulment because I was so unhappy.” The fallout from the divorce was devastating, both emotionally and financially. “I lost two houses, two cars, two dogs; I lost everything,” she shared.
Alongside this upheaval, Ashley faced the crushing loss of her father, a man whose larger-than-life presence shaped much of her world. “He was my protector, my best friend. Losing him was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through,” she said.
“I started creating an online grief diary about two months before he died. I wanted to document the last months of his life to help other people. Grief can feel isolating and lonely, and I wanted people to know that even though my life looked fun and lovely, life doesn’t discriminate. It continues to happen regardless of who you are.”
And then came the physical transformation. Ashley was once known as a plus-size model championing body positivity. After the loss of her father, she had shed significant weight. She was not only going through a physical change but an emotional and mental rebirth.
Ashley credits her father not only for her strength to get through it all, but also for sending her the love of her life. “This is my favorite story to tell,” she says, grinning. “It gives everyone chills.”
Before her dad passed, Ashley made him promise to send her signs. Weeks after his death, a medium told Ashley to look for lighthouses. “I live in the middle of Los Angeles,” she laughs. “Where was I going to find a lighthouse?”
Three days later, she met her now fiancé, Brodie John. “We were talking about where we were from. I mentioned Boston, and he said, ‘Oh, cool. Last time I was in Boston, I got one of my tattoos.’ He rolled up his sleeve, and there it was — a lighthouse on his wrist.”
Ashley had sworn off marriage. In fact, her divorce had been finalized just days before she met Brodie, ending a long, emotionally draining chapter in her life. “I said I was never getting married again. And here we are.”
Brodie proposed eight months into their relationship. “The day he proposed, we were driving. I had my eyes closed, and when I opened them, the building across the street was called The Lighthouse. After he proposed, we drove by another lighthouse. Our driver’s name turned out to be my dad’s name. And at dinner, the waiter pointed out yet another lighthouse nearby. You don’t talk about lighthouses in California. It was like my dad saying, ‘Hello, I’m right here. Stop ignoring me.’” Ashley reflects. “It bothers me that Brodie will never meet my dad in person. But it’s comforting to feel like he was handpicked by him.”
Brodie speaks with calm certainty about their future. “Ever since we met, it has been easy. Right away, I was like — I want to marry this girl.” He planned a cliffside proposal, scouted the location himself, arranged the flowers, and ordered a custom sign that read, Not Will you marry me? But: “Will you be my forever?”
Ashley tears up just thinking about it. “That showed me he wasn’t looking for just a wife. He wanted a partner. Someone to do life with.” Their love story is like a modern-day fairy tale. The couple shares a joy that only comes after you’ve been through hell and learned to rebuild from it. “We’re really enjoying this journey together,” Ashley says. “We’re having a great time, and we’re taking all these little moments to mesh our friend groups together.”
For Ashley, one of the sweetest parts of their union is watching their social circles blend. “My friends and his friends have their own group chats. I’m in such a state of euphoria watching these new friendships form. I never got that in my first marriage, so it was so special to me.”
With a new life in front of them, Ashley and Brodie are channeling their excitement and vision into planning a wedding that’s truly magical. “We want this day to be a celebration of all that we’ve been through, and all that’s to come,” Ashley explains.
Every detail has meaning. One of the most touching elements is how Ashley plans to honor her late father. “He was bigger than life. We’re thinking of powder cannons that will sprinkle his ashes over the venue after we’re pronounced husband and wife. It’s like a blessing.”
Walking herself down the aisle will be a symbolic moment. “It’s me going through my past marriage, losing my dad, and coming out the other side on my own. It’s a moment of empowerment.”
Their wedding team includes some of the best in the business. Ashley is working with Sierra James Events, a Southern California wedding planning company run by two incredible women. “Allysa & Devon really understand our vision and are always finding ways to keep our special day unique & personal to us,” she says.
For photography & videography, the couple chose OC’s Ariele Chapman and Salt Lake’s Runaway Vows. They are renowned for creating stunning, personalized photos & videos that capture emotion and elegance.
And because travel has always been a huge part of Ashley’s life, the honeymoon plans are equally dreamy. “We’re torn between the Maldives and Bora Bora. Both are gorgeous. It’s the perfect way to start our new life together.”
The three-day wedding celebration will be taking place on a 40-acre estate in San Diego, rented through a new wedding-focused platform called WedStay—think Airbnb, but for weddings. The estate includes five houses and sleeps 41 guests, allowing them to spend real time with their loved ones instead of squeezing everything into a six-hour blur.
• Night One: A laid-back pizza party replaces the traditional rehearsal dinner, focused on mingling, laughter, and connection.
• Wedding Day: June 6, 2026. The ceremony will feature a custom-built bridge over a tropical-style pool—Ashley’s aisle. The backdrop? Rolling San Diego hills, framed by towering gold structures partially adorned with white roses and greenery. “It’s going to look like we’re literally inside a picture frame,” she explains.
• Special Touches: They’re still working out the details, but have floated the idea of synchronized swimmers for cocktail hour. Live swans in the pool. Women in showgirl outfits serving guests. And possibly white peacocks—a nod to Ashley’s whimsical, Taylor Swift-loving side.
• Reception Goals: Either a fully mirrored dance floor inspired by a light-based “infinity room” Brodie once took her to during a tough time, or an open-air tented celebration under San Diego’s starry skies.
• Day Three: A full-on pool party, adult spring break-style.
“This wedding isn’t just about us,” Ashley says. “It’s a way of thanking the people who helped us get here. Some of our family and friends have never experienced something like this, and we’re lucky to be in a position to offer them that.”
Ashley and Brodie like to honor their love in a big way. Even their prenup was turned into a celebration. This time around, Ashley made a prenup non-negotiable. They partnered with HelloPrenup, a company featured on Shark Tank, to co-host a “prenup party” for their engagement. It was a full-blown event. There was a performance by Aubrey O’Day, interviews by Heather McDonald, and the pair got matching tattoos (an “XOXO” split between them). There were aura readings, a cotton candy station, a milkshake bar, and even a plastic surgeon, Dr. Nik, offering CellSound treatments, which are non-invasive skin tightening.
Ashley is embracing this new chapter of life with gratitude and joy. Her journey reminds us that starting over is an opportunity for growth, reinvention, and discovery. “Everything I’ve lost has made room for everything I’ve needed,” she reflects.
Her message to anyone facing challenges is clear: “Don’t get caught up in doing things the ‘right way’ or fearing mistakes. That’s no fun. Life is messy, but it’s yours to live. You only get to do this once.”
With Brodie by her side, she celebrates a future bright with possibility. “I hope our story gives people hope. A year ago, I was in the darkest place of my life. And now? I’m marrying my best friend. My grandmother always said, ‘Never underestimate the difference a year can make.’ I finally understand what she meant.”
Ashley is letting the world in on a journey that’s equal parts heartbreak, healing, and hope. “I like to say, everything I’ve lost has made room for everything that I’ve needed. This wedding isn’t just about one day. It’s about honoring how far we’ve come, individually— and how much fun we’re having now that we’re finally living on our own terms, together.
On Print Creative Director: ETTE ART
Editor-in-Chief: Ashley Foster-Kane
Editorial & Creative Voice: Jennielyn Salmorin
Publisher: Derek Warburton
