At The Weekly, we love a good success story, especially when it involves empowering women.
You already know Jules Robinson from Married at First Sight Season 6 where she met her now husband Cam Merchant. And we’ve watched her journey from reality TV sweetheart to the inspiring entrepreneur behind FIGUR, her fabulous Aussie shapewear brand.
Now, Jules is teaming up with Stella Insurance, a female-focused brand committed to supporting women with award-winningˆ cover. This partnership is all about boosting confidence and providing support where it’s needed most.
We had the chance to chat with Jules about her incredible journey, the challenges she’s overcome and what this exciting collaboration means for her and for women everywhere.
Read on to find out how Jules and Stella Insurance are making a difference together, and then scroll to the end for details on how you can enjoy a free FIGUR ULTIMATE shapewear* with every car insurance policy purchase from Stella. Offer ends 25 Nov 2024.
AWW: We first met you on MAFS Season 6, but you are also a professional hair and makeup artist by trade – what inspired you to transition from that career to become the founder of FIGUR?
Jules: Hair, makeup and styling is in my blood. I absolutely love it. I still have my salon/cocktail bar Status Co. in Barangaroo. My purpose has always been to make people feel great, women feel beautiful and confident, now I channel that in different ways.
Through FIGUR this transition was so organic, and wasn’t something I had ever imagined creating, from being on a national television show and being trolled and body shamed for being a confident curvy woman, and also wearing really uncomfortable shapewear!
I also had so many women reach out who appreciated this and felt inspired by this – they could see themselves in me – but it was also very clear that these thousands of women who reached out felt they were not enough because of their body, with questions like: ‘Where do you get your clothes from?’ ‘I’ve got a body like yours and I wish I could dress like you.’ ‘I wish I had your confidence.’
I decided to make my superpower shapewear that always made everyone feel good. FIGUR was created with a really strong message of body positivity and with the reminder that underneath the material it is all you!
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when launching FIGUR, and how did you overcome them?
Well, firstly launching two weeks before COVID hit Australia was definitely a challenge! Looking back in hindsight it cemented the core of FIGUR, which is women supporting women. I created my #WeWillFIGURItOut campaign. And I had women nominate other women who were really struggling through this time of their lives, then FIGUR and I sent care packs 20 percent of sales went to gift cards for supermarkets and sent to them to show support.
How did the partnership with Stella Insurance come about, and why is it important to you and FIGUR?
Stella Insurance and FIGUR are completely different worlds but have the same mission and purpose – which is to support women in living their best life and feel confident in their everyday lives. Our values align which is why this partnership will make such a positive impact on the future for women.
How does working with other female founders – such as Stella’s Sam White – give you inspiration/support you on your business journey?
I have always said surround yourself with good people with aligned values and you can’t go wrong. Sam is a huge inspiration as her values not only align with mine, her courage to make noise about what’s important and to do something about it is ever so inspiring because she wants to make change and she’s not afraid to take the action needed herself.
As a female, not just as a female founder, she is incredibly inspiring because she shows from the way she goes about her passions, anything is possible.
FIGUR promotes body confidence for women of all shapes and sizes. How do you hope to impact women through your brand?
I feel it starts with a real example, such as myself, so that women can see a direct reflection – I hold so much integrity within FIGUR and pour myself into it too. This was how the brand values were born.
Everything FIGUR stands for was created because I went through it personally, I have felt it, experienced it and now I want to relay that message to our customers and all women out there that no matter what size, diversity, age you are you are worthy, you are loved, you are enough, and you are beautiful.
The size on your clothes tag does not define who you are or your potential. Your product is the body and the brand is the soul – I’m overwhelmed with how many believe in the soul of FIGUR.
What does body confidence mean to you personally?
Accepting your body – accepting you and then loving you. Just as you are. And absolutely working what you got! My generation was force fed what “perfect” was and it led to many believing they didn’t fit to the mould of beauty.
I hope beauty at any size can now be deep rooted culturally so we can start to wipe out the self-deprecating behaviour I know most of us 90s teenagers had.
How do you balance your professional and personal life, especially with the demands of being a public figure, a business owner and a mum?
I still would like to see the village that they all talk about! Take me there! But in my personal situation, I’m very grateful to have a wonderful life partner. My husband and I always give each other the space to be individuals and do our own thing, and work together. We co-parent, we share diaries, and we are a little team.
It’s really important to encourage women to fulfill their dreams and achieve their accomplishments but there needs to be true balance firstly at home.
What advice would you give to women looking to start their own businesses, especially those who may be facing self-doubt or external challenges?
Myself, Sam and I’m sure so many other inspirational female founded business owners started our businesses with a huge why; you don’t just start a business to make money. You do it to make a difference… That was our driving force, the problem that we wanted to solve.
I think that’s when you have such a belief in what you want to be solved that you will find a way to make it happen cause you have such a strong belief in it.
When you surround yourself with positive like-minded women, then they will lift you up and help you make your dreams come true, to help you take on the external challenges that may be holding you back because they have experienced them before.
Once you take that first step continue to tap into your purpose which becomes the driving force of what you do and why you do, once you start to see results of small change in someone’s life that you may have made, you then realise it’s all worth it and continue on your journey. It’s all worth it and you’re glad you looked that doubt in the face and just started.
Looking back, how did your experience on MAFS shape who you are today, both personally and professionally?
Life definitely changed after my experience on MAFS! I never went on there to change my life, but I did go on there to find love. And I did. I met Cam and started a family.
It blows my mind how naïve we were! All that has come with it has been a bonus. I’ve held my integrity and only wanted to use my platform for good. It’s definitely made me more accepting of myself. You have no choice but to be.
There can be a lot of unnecessary judgement that comes from being in the public eye. But eventually you just have to not care. And be anchored in your truth.
Celebrating confidence inside and out
Enjoy a free gift from FIGUR with every new Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance policy purchase.
To celebrate the partnership, when you sign up for a new Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance policy by 25 Nov 2024, you can choose a complimentary FIGUR ULTIMATE shapewear shorts, skirt or mini skirt (worth RRP $129+).
Enter code FIGUR24 at online checkout when purchasing a new Stella car insurance policy.
Offer ends 25 November 2024 (AEST). Eligible customers will receive a unique link after 30 days from the commencement date of their active and valid policy, and must redeem the gift on FIGUR website via the unique link by 25 January 2025. While stocks last. T&Cs apply*.
Stella and FIGUR are proudly providing cover for everybody.
Get a car insurance quick quote.
*Underwriting criteria, policy terms and conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Promotional Ts&Cs apply. The ‘Complimentary choice of FIGUR ULTIMATE shapewear item’ offer is available from 25/07/2024 (AEST) – 25/11/2024 (AEDT) by purchasing a new Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance policy and applying code FIGUR24 at online checkout. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Limit of one gift redemption per customer. Eligible customers must hold their policy for at least 30 days after which they will receive an email with a unique link to redeem the free shapewear item. Eligible customers can only select one of the items available, as listed on FIGUR website via the unique link: ULTIMATE Shaping Shorts, ULTIMATE Shaping Skirt, or ULTIMATE Shaping Mini Skirt. The gift must be redeemed by 25/01/2025 (AEDT). While stocks last. Cannot be refunded for cash. Exchange available only in accordance with the FIGUR Exchange Policy . Standard shipping cost (within Australia) is included. See FIGUR shipping policy here . For more details, please visit www.stellainsurance.com.au/figur or read full T&Cs here.
Any advice provided in any of our materials is of a general nature only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation, or needs. To decide if this product is right for you, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Target Market Determination (TMD) available at www.stellainsurance.com.au . Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance is distributed by Stella Underwriting Pty Ltd (Stella) (ABN 72 633 811 319) as an Authorised Representative (AR No 001282046) of Virginia Surety Company, Inc. (ARBN 080 339 957, AFSL 245579), who is the insurance issuer.
^WeMoney Insurance Awards 2024: Winner – Car Insurer of the Year – Back-to-back (3 years).
Stella is an award-winning insurance brand that’s mission-led, authentically different and passionately pro-women. Stella offers car insurance, travel insurance and pet insurance. Stella is passionate about challenging the status quo, championing equality and building products for a fairer world.
