Launched in 2009, her premium jeans collection CJ by Cookie Johnson now has a fashion following as devoted as fans of her round-baller hubby, Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Even though Johnson has an extensive background in fashion, she wisely formed a partnership with jeans guru Michael Glasser (Seven for all Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, Rich & Skinny)

Now, Oprah Winfrey and Janet Jackson rave about the line for curvy women in sizes 2 to 18 (with a plus-sized line in sizes 24 to 38) and a target market of 25- to 70-year-olds.

Johnson, 52, showed the fall/winter collection during a recent “Girls Night Out” at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria in Fort Lauderdale. Prices range from $148 to $200.

We caught up with Johnson on her way to Neiman Marcus (her first Fort Lauderdale visit) for a quick Q&A:

RH Why oh why is it so hard to find jeans that fit?

CJ The denim industry catered to one body type: a girl with a figure straight up and down. And you try on a size 12 and it’s really a size 10. They really just don’t want that customer. I just think that’s not fair. Curvy women are sexy – much more so than those women who look like little boys.

RH  How do your jeans fix that?

CJ  We put more room in the thighs and the hips and tapered the waist in a little bit.

RH Didn’t you start out as a model?

CJ  I modeled in high school but I didn’t think that was necessarily the way to go. But I love fashion and I knew I had to be involved in it. So I took a tailoring course and that gave me the bug. Fashion
is my passion.

RH Your line took off right away. Lots of other lines kind of just evaporated after a year or two. Why do you think yours did so well?

CJ We were first for curvy fit right there in the beginning. We were for girls who have bodies like Beyonce or J-Lo or, way back in the day, someone like Sophia Loren or Marilyn Monroe. We’re bringing it all back. Other lines maybe added some curvy sizes later on. But by then women were frustrated.

RH You and Magic have teenagers at home. Does that keep you on trend with fashion?

CJ Oh yeah, I have a 16-year-old daughter who’s really into it. She’s carved out her own look. She gives me advice. She was telling me two years ago, ‘Mom, look at these colors in jeans. No one wears blue jeans anymore.’ And my 19-year-old son is very into fashion too.

RH Do you travel constantly doing these personal appearances and trunk shows?

CJ Well it’s only during a certain time of the year. I spend about 30 to 40 percent of the time traveling for the line. It’s very important to get the word out there that we are there for these women who the fashion industry has treated so poorly for years. These women feel like they can’t wear jeans. We help them get rid of their hangups. You should see them when they try on a pair of jeans that fit them for the first time. Those women are dancing around the dressing room. I get emails, calls, letters – it’s heart wrenching. I feel bad because I know what they are going through.

Send your questions to Rod Hagwood at FashionGuy@sun-sentinel.com.