Lizzie Rovsek Interview

Lizzie Rovsek is a swimsuit designer and stay at home mother of two.  Lizzie is one of the Reality Tv stars on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Orange County and joined the cast in it’s 9th season. Lizzie hails from the Bluegrass state, a former Miss Kentucky USA and owner and designer of Sun Kitten Swimwear.  Married to Christian, they have two children, Preston and Kingston. They reside in Orange County, California.

Describe yourself in 3 words?

Passionate, ambitious, grateful.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life?  

My dad has always been my hero and biggest influence. My dad is the true American dream. He was born a very poor farm boy from a one-room schoolhouse in the sticks of Kentucky. He was very smart and athletic (he played basketball) and was a hard-working farm boy. Through athletic and academic scholarships, he went to Yale for Grad school and got his PhD at Harvard. He became a very successful physicist and invented the phantom that measures bone density along with writing about a million medical patents. He is, simply put, ‘a genius’. He has always been an amazing father too – when I was a little girl he would tell me bedtime stories that took me on trips around the world on the ‘magic carpet ride.’ Every night, he would take me to another country and tell me what the people were wearing, how it smelled, what it looked like, and even how the wind felt on my face flying through the sky on the magic carpet. Having been a world traveler himself, he knew first hand all the sites and sounds. My dad is still married to my mother and is now an incredible grandfather to his 5 grandchildren, and is just an overall big kid at heart.

Why did you choose to work in fashion and launch your own Sun Kitten Swimwear line?

I graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in fashion design before I took off to LA with my heart set on TV and film acting. When I got married, I left LA and moved to San Diego and starting designing my first collection while I was pregnant with my first son. I always wanted to design a swimwear line because I had always had a difficult time finding swimwear being large on top and small on bottom. I also wanted to set a goal for myself to lose all my baby weight and model for my first collection. I accomplished both, and in 2011, I launched Sun Kitten Swimwear and modeled my first collection.

What is different from Sun Kitten Swimwear from other brands?

Sun Kitten combines function and beauty. I spend a great deal of time working on the construction of swimwear for women who might need a little extra support, but also want to wear sexy and fun swimwear – Black Cat does both those things.  It has underwire cups that size up to DD (or larger) in a very sexy one piece with ruffles on the hips. Sugar and Spice is a great two-piece underwire set, too!

Where we can find your swimwear line?

We are in stores all over the world from Dubai to the Dominican Republic and all over the US. You can shop online at sunkittenswimwear.com, and also check out our list of retailers.

How’s your typical day?

My typical day involves a lot of driving around – I have two little boys that are involved in almost every sport. I drive back and forth to Santa Ana to our factory, constantly. I’m always working on new designs I shuffle between my pattern maker and my factory constantly and I’m always overseeing production. I try and work out almost everyday (it’s my sanity) and I try and do something special with my kids everyday. Whether it’s taking them to the park, coloring with them, reading books or taking them for ice cream. From morning till night, my days are jam-packed. I try and fit in some spa time and date nights are very important on a weekly basis.

What has been the hardest part of your career?

Being away from my kids is definitely the hardest part. Be careful what you wish for I guess. I never imagined the success I would have obtained with Sun Kitten, but it does come at a cost. It takes a lot to run a company and time is precious.

In five years from now, where do you see yourself and your career?

In 5 years, I see Sun Kitten continuing to grow and branching out into new divisions. I want to start children and men’s swimwear.

Best advice ever given?

PRAY!

And now tell us about RHOC. How did you get selected for the show and why you decided to be on it?

I literally got a phone call out of the blue from the creator of the show and they wanted to know if I would be interested in being on the show. It seemed to come out of left field. I left for a trip to St. Bart’s days later and by the time I arrived back in the states, I got a call from one of the show’s producers saying they wanted cameras in my house in a matter of days. It all happened really fast!

Are you friends with the other cast members of the show outside the cameras?

I talk to almost everyone from the cast. (Almost everyone☺)

What quote do you live by?

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about

3 things you can’t leave home without?

Cell phone, sunglasses, and sunblock

Where we can follow you?

IG @lizzierovsek @sunkittenswimwear

FACEBOOK Lizzie Rovsek

Facebook Sun Kitten Swimwear

Twitter @LizzieRovsek

Twitter @sunkittenswim

Music:  Alternative

Book: Just finished reading Imagine Heaven—powerful and life changing

Drink:  Pinot noir

Travel destination: Switzerland

Movie: There are too many!!!  Say Anything, Goodwill Hunting

Sports team:  Kentucky Wildcats – UK basketball

Photo Credit: Brie Childers