Plus-Size Model Rosie Mercado Lost 210 Lbs. After Being Told She Wouldn't Fit in a Plane Seat, Changing Her Career and Her Life

Rosie Mercado remembers getting interested calls from top modeling agencies that received her headshot, only to be told they couldn't work with her after finding out her size.

At the time, the mother-of-three, now 35, had reached a high weight of 410 lbs. Mercado says she had a "not-so-good relationship with food" that was made worse when she endured several traumatic life events over a short period of time.


"I hit rock bottom about eight years ago, and started gaining a lot of weight," she tells PEOPLE. "My son was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy, my marriage fell apart. Everything that could possibly happen happened."

For a while, Mercado resigned herself to being larger, even though her quality of life was plummeting. For me it was normal for me to have to think about fitting at a table or booth," she says. "I couldn't go to the movies. I couldn't go to Disneyland – I had to hire a nanny so my kids could have fun because I was too heavy for the rides."

Mercado had a wake up call when an airline employee told her she needed to purchase a second seat to fit on a plane.

"They were really rude," she says. "They announced it in front of everyone that I needed to buy an additional ticket. That was an 'aha' moment for me – either I choose to continue living this lifestyle, or I make a wise decision and take responsibility for my life." people