Do you know the last black-led romantic comedy to ever hit the big screen? you and me and tuscany It was think like a human Going back to 2012? Fourteen years.
Please wait a moment for that. Yet here we are in 2026, with a Will Packer-produced, black-led romantic comedy set in Tuscany and starring Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page playing in theaters across the country. Yes, we showed up. And yes, we have an idea.
Because while this movie is about romance and escapism, it also quietly advances something Hollywood is still struggling with. Plus-size representation in film.
But before we get into it, context is important.
A movie that carries more weight than its own weight
a few weeks ago you and me and tuscany At the opening, filmmaker Nina Lee shared something that will make people stop mid-scroll.
She revealed that when she met with the studio about a completed romantic comedy, they told her they wouldn’t buy it until they knew how it would turn out. you and me and tuscany Executed. She met with another executive about another script and heard the same thing. “A movie that has nothing to do with me could literally change my life,” she wrote.
1. I met with a studio about a romantic comedy that had already been filmed, but they wouldn’t buy it.
They understand how you, me and Tuscany go2. I met with executives about a romance script I have, but they won’t do it until they buy it.
They understand how you, me and Tuscany go3. Let’s go see this movie!
— Nina Lee (@NinaSerafina) March 25, 2026
The studio was waiting to see what would happen. this movie is done before making any decisions about other romantic comedies. It’s not a similar movie. Unconnected project.
Just…this.
One movie carries the weight of an entire genre.
Within 24 hours, her post garnered attention and sparked the kind of conversation that always felt like it should have happened. year before. Why does one black-led romantic comedy have to prove that every other romantic comedy is viable?
Still, the underlying message was all clear.
Please show up.
like will packer put it down“Hollywood watches, and they react. You vote with your dollars.”
The stakes were real and the conversation was necessary. And was there that whole “there’s room for everyone” energy? There’s still a lot on the table.
Black romantic comedy that was actually distributed
As a black woman who has been learning Italian for 506 days and spending her nights playing Duolingo and daydreaming about the cobblestone streets of Florence, this film was already personal to me.
Nina Lee conversation? It just added a little more intentionality to my one-man show dates.
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you and me and tuscany The film tells the story of Anna, a young cook played by Harry Bailey who wanders into a Tuscan villa and unexpectedly falls in love with Michael played by Regé-Jean Page.
Chemistry is easy. The settings are exactly what I want. And Halle captures something truly beautiful about wanting more when you don’t quite know how to ask for it yet.
But let’s be real for a moment.
What character did the entire theater react to?
Francesa.
Enter Stella Pecoro
performer Stella PecoroFrancesa is Marcello’s cousin. She appears in every scene dressed as fun, chaotic, and whimsical as possible. She is picky in the best sense of the word. She’s funny even without trying to be.
She immediately reminded me of my favorite cousin. Someone who doesn’t make sure it’s the right moment before making you laugh. The audience around me felt it too. I heard their voices.
Naturally we had to talk to Stella.
TCF talks with Stella Pecro
Stella Pecro She is an Italian actress and singer who has built a career in Italy, the United Kingdom, and now the United States. She’s a body positivity advocate, author, and the kind of woman who, within four minutes of a conversation, makes you feel like you’ve known her forever.
From Italy with joy
Stella Pecolo’s journey into entertainment started early.
“Singing was my first passion. I’ve been singing probably since I was born,” she said with a laugh.
She started acting when she was 15 or 16, and the two have coexisted ever since. “I’ve done short films, plays, plays, musicals, and then I got more serious. I did movies, feature films, TV series, lead roles,” she said.
She primarily works in Italy, spent many years in the UK, and now… you and me and tuscany. And the reaction was very helpful, in a good way.
She was a comedy guy on a rom-com. i love her https://t.co/S1yrpiUIoh
— Supernova Momma (@SupernovaMomma) April 12, 2026
And if there’s one thing she always comes back to, it’s this:
joy.
“I get so many messages from people telling me I make them laugh. And that’s what we need all the time, and especially right now. Joy.”
Say it louder, Stella.
How Francesa found her
This is the good part. Because the story of how Stella got the role of Francesa is just as fun as the character herself.
Director Kat Coiro was deep in pre-production in Rome when he met with Oscar-nominated costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini. They were still trying to play some roles, but he simply pulled up Stella’s Instagram and basically asked, what about her? “She was like, ‘Oh my God, you’re perfect for this role. Let me audition,'” Stella said.
After applying to two auditions for two different roles, I heard back within 24 hours. “When this thing happens, you know it’s magical.”
During our first Zoom call, Coiro said something that sticks with me. “She said to me, ‘I’m so glad you’re Italian, but you also understand the comedic timing of American scripts.’ Because different countries have different comedic timing, and I’m used to watching American comedies, so I probably already have that in my head.”
But what made this collaboration stand out was what happened next. Rather than handing Stella the final script and leaving, Coiro opened the floor.
“She struck up a conversation right away and asked for my feedback on the role and all the Italian in the movie. She really wanted everything to be authentic.”
This kind of supervisory leniency is not common. And what did Stella do with the invitation? That’s the really good part.
Flipping the script on plus-size representation in film
Here, Stella Pecolo’s influence goes beyond performance and directly impacts the changing conversation around plus-size representation in film.
Stella Pecoro is a body positivity advocate and activist, and when she sat down with Coiro to discuss Francesa’s story, she brought a part of herself directly into the room. Early drafts of the script included the possibility that Francesa’s husband would be unfaithful. Stella didn’t like it.
“I don’t like the idea of portraying a woman going on a journey like that, especially with my body type,” she said. “And she said, ‘You know, I completely agree with you.'”
They rewrote it. together. From zero. What’s the plumber subplot that viewers will enjoy? It wasn’t in the original script. “My director and I created this piece from scratch because she listened to me and gave me the opportunity to express my concerns about representing my role as a woman and as a plus-size woman.”
This is important for those who have spent years watching plus-size women in movies reduced to the butt of jokes, lovelorn best friends, or characters whose entire plot weight is weighted.
Deputy As pointed out in the article about plus-size romantic comedy representation, we’re still waiting for Hollywood to consistently get this right. Francesa proves it is possible.
“There’s no mention of my size or body shape in the movie,” Stella said. “My character enjoys food, enjoys passion, enjoys life, is vibrant, cheerful…and that’s it. She’s just a woman living her life.”
A woman living her life.
It’s not a joke.
It’s not a lesson.
It’s not a transformation.
Just… just being alive.
we love seeing it.
clothes make cousins
You can’t talk about Francesa without talking about her wardrobe. Massimo Cantini Parrini designed every look, resulting in an entire on-screen wardrobe vibe. Every time Francesa enters a room, color does something. The pattern says something. Energy is non-negotiable.
Stella’s personal favorite? The yellow floral dress that Francesa wears when she first meets Halle’s character in the kitchen. “It’s short. The V-neck is nice. And it’s comfortable. This helps because I spend hours shooting in that outfit.”
But what made this wardrobe feel truly meaningful was that a significant portion of it already belonged to the person named Stella off set. “For years, I hid myself by wearing black clothes without color or pattern to make myself look thinner,” she said. “I’m going to do the opposite from now on, and Francesa is the same. It’s fun, playing with colors and patterns.”
There it is. Francesa was more than just a character. she declared.
Io Sono Vera: The book that started it all
Stella Pecolo’s work in this field did not begin like this. you and me and tuscany.
Stella has been doing this work for years, away from the screen. In 2020, she published her memoirs in Italy. Io Sono Bellatranslated as “I am beautiful.” The book covers her journey towards self-acceptance and touches on the love, food, relationships, and eating disorders she overcame along the way.
Get this! An editor at a publishing company read an interview she gave for Vanity Fair Italia while filming an Italian television series. What’s his pitch? You have to tell your story. What was Stella’s reaction? That’s already the case. She was preparing a one-woman play on the same theme, and the material was there and ready to go.
She is currently working on bringing the book to an English-speaking audience. And her reasoning as to why it’s needed now is spot on. “They’re trying to sell us new products to help us lose weight,” she says. “And this is something we still need to discuss.”
She also revealed that the book isn’t just aimed at plus-size women. “Everyone has some insecurities about their body, and we all need to understand on some level that that’s okay. We’re not perfect. No one is perfect.”
No one is perfect. It’s a song. But it’s also true.
what happens next
Stella has a project in the works that she can’t name yet, but she revealed that she’s currently writing two screenplays inspired by her next project. Io Sono Bellacollaborating with both Italian and American authors. “Writing in a language that is not your native language is also difficult,” she says. “So it’s very exciting, very exciting.”
And yes. She hears calls for a sequel. you and me and tuscany. We’ve all heard of them. In threads, TikTok, and group chats. People are already planning trilogies.
“That’s unfortunate,” Stella said.
Fingers crossed for sure.
legacy
When asked what she would like to leave behind, Stella did not hesitate.
Stella didn’t need long to answer.
“The main legacy I want to leave behind is for people, especially women, to truly and deeply love themselves first and foremost. When I see women grow into their best selves, not because they’re dieting, but because they start loving themselves, to me that’s the most beautiful thing in life.”
If Francesa is part of what Stella Pecoro brings to every room she enters, the world is lucky that she has decided to bring herself to this room.
you and me and tuscany is currently in theaters. Please go see it. Please go see it again. In the meantime, follow Stella Pecoro on Instagram and keep an eye out for what she does next.
Source: The Curvy Fashionista – thecurvyfashionista.com
