Julia Fox Says Celebrities Have a Civic ‘Duty’ to Fans: ‘Fashion Is Inherently Political’
Samantha Bergeson
Julia Fox is running for public office for being the best dressed and most civically minded.
The multi-hyphenate talent and creator of E! reality series “OMG Fashun” exclusively told IndieWire that she was determined to showcase sociopolitical issues through garments in the series. Fox and Scout Productions pitched the competition show to NBC, billing it as “Chopped” meets “Project Runway” as contestants craft clothes using unusual items.
“It just doesn’t seem real, still,” Fox said of having her own series. “My whole thing is trying to support emerging talent in any way. But I also was like, if I’m going to be putting something out on such a big platform, I want to make sure that [in] each episode, we touch on themes that really get people to think. It could be the single-use plastic crisis or sexual wellness or gender norms. I just really wanted each episode to just lightly touch on those topics that are so important to me, but in a way that doesn’t feel preachy, where it can still be fun and lighthearted while also exploring themes that are super, super significant right now in our country.”
Those materials range from condoms to plastic bottles and other recyclables. Judges Fox and Law Roach are joined by guests Phaedra Parks, Tommy Dorfman, Pretty Vee, Violet Chachki, Wisdom Kaye, Lauren McCarthy, Jordan Roth, and Fox’s own stylist Briana Andalore to crown a winning “disruptor” designer. Each week’s winner is awarded a $10,000 cash prize and gets their look modeled by Fox.
Fox co-hosts the show, now streaming on Peacock, with stylist Roach, whom she calls her “idol.” Fox admitted that she was “insecure” at first whether Roach would sign on; she deemed it the “happiest day of my life” when he did.
“I knew that we would create something extraordinary together because all he does is extraordinary,” Fox said. “He made me feel so much more confident in the show.”
Roach most recently went viral for his collaborations with Zendaya for the “Challengers” press tour.
The series “OMG Fashun” has a specific message for fans while also being binge-able and entertaining, which is something that Fox and Roach agreed upon from the start.
“It wasn’t all just about fashion, although it is because I do think that fashion is inherently political,” Fox said. “It’s our duty as people in the public eye, or when you’re given an opportunity of this grandeur, to have it be more significant than just like a fashion show.”
