Why My Success Scares Off Potential Boyfriends
Written by Katrina Fox, Founder & CEO
Katrina Fox is a 28-year-old founder and owner of RFRM. Studios, the inclusive Reformer Pilates brand she launched in 2023. From her roots in the Midlands, she’s now expanded to Covent Garden, creating welcoming spaces where EVERY body belongs, challenging the exclusive vibe of Reformer and making it more welcoming than ever.
Being a founder or CEO often plants me firmly in my masculine energy; we all know the drill. But being “the boss” isn’t exactly all sunshine and rainbows. The truth? We’re all scared, trying to calm our nervous systems down, and sometimes, when I'm holding it together, all I want is a hug... and maybe a good cry for a hot minute.
What I truly need from a long-term partner is someone who lets me slip out of that boss mode and into my feminine energy. Someone who cares for my heart, makes me feel cherished, and allows me to simply be just a girl.
The myth of the financial match
Here’s a shocker: every female boss I know has faced the same assumption, men think we want a partner who can financially match us. It couldn’t be more wrong. Most of us are hopeless romantics, and we fall for someone’s heart, not their bank balance. Call it cliché if you like, but successful women already have financial independence. What do we really crave? Connection, love, attention.
Reaching that place of financial comfort taught me one thing: what I want is simple. It’s love, emotional support, romance, maybe someone to run me a bath with a crisp Savvy B waiting in the fridge on a Friday. Oh, and if he can also make me laugh? Let me tell you, that’s worth a heck of a lot more than a fancy dinner with a rich guy who can’t even remember to ask how my day went.
Wanted, not needed
The idea that women need men is ancient history. Remember when women couldn’t even get a mortgage solo? Thankfully, it’s 2025, and women’s success is everywhere. So why are we still stuck with old-fashioned dating rules and stereotypes?
It cracks me up how women get labelled “impossible to please.” But let’s flip that: either guys want us to depend on them, then call us gold diggers, or we earn our own money, and they call us intimidating. Seriously? Make it make sense!
Being wanted, rather than needed, is a powerful and luxurious position to be in. If a successful woman doesn’t need you but still wants to share her life with you, trust me, you’re one lucky guy.
The intimidation factor of successful women
Isn’t it funny that men see successful women as intimidating, making them feel less masculine? Being able to swallow that outdated pride and support a powerful woman without feeling diminished... now that’s real strength.
Remember the Barbie movie? The real message was mutual support, building each other up individually and together. That’s true partnership. Relationships are tough, this we know, but being a boss and having to gently manicure a man’s ego? I definitely didn’t sign up for that.
The heart of the hustler
I am so much more than my business. When it comes to dating, I want a man who falls in love with me, not my title or what I’ve built. I crave someone who’s genuinely curious about my quirks, my hopes, the messy, beautiful parts of me beyond the boardroom.
The right partner for me would celebrate my drive and ambition, but also savor the moments when I just want to be seen as a woman, not a CEO. Because real connection happens when you feel comfortable being seen, not as the business gal, but for who YOU are.
Behind the chaos of running a business, there’s a girl in there. A girl who loves to go for a roast dinner and share a bottle of Malbec in a cosy pub on a Sunday. A girl who loves to travel and see the world. A girl who loves to paint, draw, and learn new things. Yes, running a business can be all-consuming and such a huge part of your life, but I refuse to let that be all there is to know about me.
On dates, that’s something I really look out for. Does a guy want to know ME, or does he just want to know my business, you know, that big thing he’s already intimidated by?
So what now?
I firmly believe that what’s meant for you will not pass you by, and the man of my dreams genuinely exists out there. But one thing I refuse to do? Shrink myself, my ambitions, or who I am just to get a boyfriend.
But what on earth am I going to do about finding love? Well, let me tell you, I’m going to pour into my own frickin’ cup, love myself, look after my mind, body, and soul (most likely on a Reformer), romanticize my life every single day, and when a guy comes along who wants to add to my already fulfilled life and brings something more to it... Yeah, I’ll marry that man.
And here’s the unapologetic mic drop:
“If you think I’m too much, congratulations, babe, you’re absolutely correct. But for the right man who is worthy of my energy, I’ll be just right.”
Read more from Katrina Fox
Katrina Fox, Founder & CEO
Katrina Fox has transformed RFRM. Studios into more than just a Pilates brand, she's built a vibrant community where movement meets mental well-being.
By dismantling the cliquey barriers often associated with Reformer Pilates, Katrina has created a space where everyone feels welcome and supported. Her studios aren't just places to take a class; they're sanctuaries for building confidence, fostering connections, and embracing personal growth.
Through her unwavering commitment, Katrina has cultivated a culture of inclusivity and empowerment, proving that when we support each other, the sky's the limit.
