We’ve all seen the images of EJ Johnson strutting down a Manhattan sidewalk in a sheer top, thigh-high boots, and a Birkin bag that probably costs more than a mid-sized sedan. He is the personification of "glam." But if you only know him as the ultra-slim, gender-fluid fashion icon from Rich Kids of Beverly Hills or EJNYC, you’re missing a huge chunk of the story.
The ej johnson before era wasn't just about a different physical silhouette; it was about a young man navigating the shadow of a global athletic legend while trying to figure out if he even wanted to be in the spotlight at all.
Honestly, it's easy to look at a 180-pound weight loss and call it a "glow-up." But for EJ, the change was more of an unmasking. Before the gastric sleeve, before the public coming out, and before the "EJ-isms" became part of the reality TV lexicon, Earvin Johnson III was a student at NYU just trying to find a lane that didn't involve a basketball.
The Reality of Growing Up a "Rich Kid"
Life in Beverly Hills sounds like a dream, but growing up as Magic Johnson’s son came with a specific set of pressures. Most people assume EJ was always this confident, "don't-care-what-you-think" personality. That’s not quite true.
In high school, he was actually voted "most likely to be a talk show host." He had the personality. He had the wit. But he was also struggling with his weight in a way that felt permanent. He’s been very open about the fact that he tried every diet under the sun. Nothing stuck.
He was raised in a Pentecostal Christian household. His father is a 6'9" symbol of traditional masculinity. Can you imagine the internal tug-of-war? Before he was a fashion star, EJ was a hospitality student at NYU. He was focused on event planning and design. He wanted to be behind the scenes, creating the party rather than being the main event.
Then 2013 happened.
TMZ caught him holding hands with a male friend. Suddenly, the "Magic Johnson's son" narrative changed overnight. He was 20 years old. He hadn't planned to come out to the world that way, even though he’d already come out to his family at 17. The ej johnson before fame version of himself was officially gone.
That Gastric Sleeve Decision (It Wasn't the "Easy Way Out")
By the time Rich Kids of Beverly Hills premiered in 2014, EJ was a recurring cast member. He was larger, wore more conservative clothing, and was clearly the funniest person on the screen. But he wasn't happy with his health.
In 2015, he made the call to undergo gastric sleeve surgery.
I think people get this twisted. They think weight loss surgery is a "cheat code." It’s really not. EJ had 80% of his stomach removed—basically leaving it the size of a banana. He had to completely relearn how to eat.
- Breakfast: Usually just a bowl of cereal.
- Snacks: Yogurt or string cheese.
- Workouts: Heavy on Pilates and dance cardio, four to five times a week.
He didn't just "get skinny." He worked for it. He’s gone on record saying the surgery was a "tool," not a miracle. He had to cut out bread, fried foods, and high-sugar snacks. For someone who grew up in the public eye, doing that transition while the cameras were rolling was a massive risk.
Why the Style Evolution Matters
The ej johnson before wardrobe was a lot of black, a lot of draping, and a lot of trying to hide. As the pounds dropped, the hemlines rose.
He started experimenting with "gender-fluid" fashion long before it was a mainstream buzzword. We're talking capes, jumpsuits, and mesh. He famously told E! News that he doesn't feel the need to transition. He likes his body. He just likes women's clothes, too.
"I can be masculine, I can be feminine. I can do whatever I want with it and work with it." — EJ Johnson
This is the nuance people miss. They see the dresses and assume he's transitioning. He’s been very clear: he identifies as male, but his style is "fluid." It’s about the art of the look, not necessarily a change in identity.
The Magic Johnson Factor
You can't talk about EJ without talking about Magic. Early on, people wondered if there was tension. But Magic has been one of the most vocal allies a queer son could ask for.
During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Magic basically said that you have to love your kids for who they are, not who you want them to be. That support is likely why EJ was able to make such a drastic public transformation without spiraling.
Before the weight loss, EJ was already a force. He was smart, articulate, and deeply knowledgeable about high fashion (he’s a Bergdorf Goodman regular). The surgery just gave him the physical canvas to match the "over-the-top" personality he always had inside.
What We Can Learn from the Journey
EJ Johnson's story isn't just a celebrity weight loss tabloid piece. It’s actually a pretty good blueprint for radical self-acceptance.
If you're looking at your own health or identity journey, here are the real takeaways:
- Tools are not solutions. Whether it's surgery or a new career path, you still have to do the "Pilates" (the hard work) every day to maintain the change.
- Define yourself on your own terms. EJ refuses to be put in a box—he's not "just" a gay man, not "just" Magic's son, and not "just" a reality star.
- Support systems change everything. Having a family that backs your play makes the "before and after" transition significantly less traumatic.
EJ is now a voice actor (Michael Collins in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder) and a legitimate fashion commentator. He moved past being a "Rich Kid" a long time ago.
He basically showed us that the "before" version of yourself isn't something to be ashamed of—it's just the foundation for the person you're actually trying to become.
If you’re looking to track your own fitness or style evolution, start by auditing your current habits. Identify one "tool" you can use—whether that's a professional mentor, a health consultant, or just a new routine—and commit to the maintenance that comes after the initial change. Consistency is the only thing that makes a transformation stick.