REAL Housewives of New Jersey star Ashlee Holmes has debuted her 40-pound weight gain after “hiding” in fear of trolls.
Ashlee, 34, returned to social media with a powerful message of self-acceptance on Sunday following a three week break.
RHONJ star Ashlee Holmes has debuted her 40-pound weight gain[/caption]
She is seen before her body transformation[/caption]
Jacqueline Laurita‘s daughter shared a candid video showing herself walking away from the camera in an oversized black shirt and jeans, set to audio that repeated: “Yes queen, slay, slay your enemies, raise up your armies.”
In her caption, Ashlee opened up about her physical transformation and mental health struggles.
She wrote: “Hi. It’s Ashlee. The good news? Family is great. Career is great. The ‘bad’ news? Due to some health issues that I’m still navigating, in addition to some personal stressors, I have gained roughly 40lbs since December — and even more over the last year. Wild.”
Ashlee admitted that the weight gain caused her to withdraw from social media out of fear of online trolls, saying she became “pretty reclusive” and battled mild depression despite being in a good headspace overall.
But the influencer said she’s now done hiding – thanks to body-positive influencers like Victoria Garrick Browne, The Birds Papaya, Ella Halikas, Ashley Graham.
She continued: “I finally feel a level of safety and confidence for me to return to social media the way I used to be able to show up for you guys without fear of criticism from the keyboard warriors out there. Trolls are always gonna troll. I’m so grateful for those of you who have continued to follow me over the years. I’m back..
“So… this is where I’m at in my body right now. It may seem like nothing to a lot of you, but it matters to me. I’m taking all of the steps to get healthy from the inside out. Come along for the ride. I’ll share more along the way.
“(Good thing two of my best friends are @jacquibeefit and @theanabolicdietitian eh?)”
Ashlee has been through a lot in recent years.
She and husband Pete Malleo welcomed their son, Cameron, in August 2016, and married in August 2018.
However, their marriage began crumbling in July 2020, when Ashlee announced their separation, citing a tough road ahead as they would co‑parent their young son.
Though they briefly reconciled in early 2021, by August that year they split again, filing for divorce in October.
The split unleashed a wave of emotions.
Ashlee accused Pete of infidelity – then retracted that claim publicly and apologized, affirming, “Pete did NOT cheat,” and stating they would remain “partners in life” for Cameron’s sake
Since leaving the show, Ashlee has focused on her life as a single mother and entrepreneur.
She relocated from California back to New Jersey, where she works as a professional makeup artist and content creator, covering wellness, beauty, family life and more.
Ashlee also disclosed a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder and shared that she suffered a psychotic break, saying she “found myself in a position where I was afraid of myself and my own thoughts,” but has actively sought help.
She’s addressed mental-health issues candidly and even faced a benign breast lump, urging women to undertake regular checks.
She shared a candid video showing herself walking away from the camera in an oversized black shirt and jeans[/caption]
Ashlee admitted that the weight gain caused her to withdraw from social media out of fear of online trolls[/caption]
She is known to fans for being Jacqueline Laurita’s daughter[/caption]
