Walking the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway is designed to be a celebration of confidence, individuality and modern beauty standards. For Stassi Schroeder, however, the glamour of Miami Swim Week was quickly overshadowed by a wave of online body-shaming that left the reality television star questioning whether she wants to return.
The 38-year-old House of Stassi star has revealed that internet trolls compared her figure to SpongeBob SquarePants after she appeared in this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show. While she embraced the empowering atmosphere behind the scenes, the criticism that followed proved far harder to ignore, reigniting the conversation about the gap between fashion's message of inclusivity and the reality of social media.
Fashion Celebration Overshadowed by Trolls
Speaking on Page Six Radio, Schroeder admitted the backlash affected her confidence far more than she expected.
'The first year was really amazing,' she said. 'The second year, the trolls got to me.'
According to Schroeder, online critics mocked what they described as her 'rectangle' body shape, with many likening her physique to SpongeBob SquarePants.
'They called me SpongeBob,' she said, adding that although she joked the comments were 'not wrong', the constant ridicule made her question whether she wanted to put herself through another Sports Illustrated runway appearance.
The honesty struck a chord because it highlighted an uncomfortable truth: even fashion events built around body positivity cannot shield participants from relentless online judgement.
Sports Illustrated's Inclusive Vision
Schroeder made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway debut in 2025 before returning this year to walk alongside high-profile names including Alix Earle, Tiffany Haddish and Bethenny Frankel during Miami Swim Week.
The annual showcase has become one of fashion's leading platforms for celebrating women of different ages, body shapes and backgrounds.
In recent years, the brand has expanded its definition of beauty, championing confidence over conventional runway standards.
Schroeder said that message was reflected backstage.
'I love doing it, I feel so f***ing empowered, the girls are so nice,' she explained.
'The atmosphere, the energy, it's such a girl power vibe, and everyone's there just lifting each other. So, I really love doing it.'
Yet the supportive environment behind the scenes contrasted sharply with the reaction she later encountered online.
Social Media's Harsh Reality
Fashion may have evolved to embrace diversity, but social media remains far less forgiving.
For Schroeder, the experience demonstrated how quickly public opinion can overshadow a moment intended to celebrate self-confidence. Although she described feeling only 'just a little insecure', the comments were significant enough to make her reconsider future appearances.
At the same time, the television personality believes years in the spotlight have taught her an important lesson about managing public opinion.
'If you believe all of the positive stuff you read, that means you have to believe all the negative stuff you read,' she said.
'So, I just don't believe anything.'
Her comments echo a wider conversation across the fashion industry, where models, influencers and celebrities continue to speak openly about the mental health impact of online criticism despite growing campaigns promoting authenticity and self-acceptance.
A Career Built on Reinvention
Schroeder's runway appearance also forms part of a broader personal and professional comeback. After leaving Vanderpump Rules in 2020 following the resurfacing of past racist actions involving a former cast member, she shifted her focus towards rebuilding her career.
She has since become a New York Times bestselling author with Next Level Basic and Off With My Head, launched Hulu's House of Stassi, and built a family life with husband Beau Clark. The couple share two children, Hartford, five, and Messer, two.
Her continued involvement in major fashion events reflects how celebrity style has become an increasingly important part of her public identity, expanding her presence beyond reality television.
Confidence Remains Her Strongest Statement
Despite admitting the criticism dented her confidence, Schroeder stopped short of saying she would never return to the Sports Illustrated runway.
Instead, her willingness to discuss the experience has placed the spotlight back on the pressures celebrities face whenever they step into the fashion world. While brands increasingly celebrate inclusivity, public figures are often judged against impossible standards the moment photographs appear online.
Schroeder's story ultimately extends beyond a single runway show. It highlights the growing tension between fashion's evolving definition of beauty and the harsh reality of internet culture, where confidence can be celebrated one moment and mocked the next. Whether she decides to walk the Sports Illustrated runway again or not, her candid remarks have become another reminder that even the industry's most empowering stages cannot completely silence online negativity—and that speaking openly about it may prove more powerful than any catwalk appearance.
