I’m a size-14 Sports Illustrated model – I ignore people spewing hate because that’s on them, I’m the CEO of Confidence
A PLUS-SIZE fashionista at the top of her game doesn’t let cruel comments and name-calling bother her.
In fact, curve model Ella Halikas knows her differences are her superpower, and she’s laughing all the way to the bank — and the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Gabriella “Ella” Halikas, 26, is helping to turn the modeling industry on its head and overturn societal body norms from decades prior.
She calls herself a “self-made model,” who — after hearing more nos than yesses — graced the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2021.
She’s also done work for Maidenform, Skims, and Good American, saying it was “amazing” to meet the founders, Khloe Kardashian and Emma Green.
“It was kind of all aligned, and I feel like I got in kind of at the right timing,” she told The U.S. Sun.
Now an influencer and social media personality who is signed to Ford, she is shaping up to become one of the most sought-after curvy models since Ashley Graham.
But a killer career certainly wasn’t just handed to her.
Though Ella liked posting photos of herself — and was told she was “so natural in front of the camera” — she didn’t see a future in modeling.
“I thought, ‘Yes, I love taking photos, but this can’t go anywhere because of my size,'” she said.
But things were changing, with Ashley Graham, Iskra Lawrence, and other gorgeous women bigger than a size two gracing runways and magazines.
“I saw Ashley Graham and other plus-size models blow up in the industry,” she said.
And I figured out there’s a whole other market that I haven’t even explored or tapped into yet.”
“Ashley Graham was another one that I was like really looked up to.”
The Los Angeles resident shared how she turned her bodily insecurities into her “biggest superpowers” with The U.S. Sun.
SWIM SENSATION
After three years of trying to become recognized by the Sports Illustrated brand, Ella’s “big yes” came, but it took tenacity, persistence, and a plan to get noticed.
“One of my biggest things that I love to say and I live by is, ‘Don’t give up on your dreams, no matter how many nos you get along the way,'” she said.
Show up for yourself day in and out. Stay consistent with what you want and your goals.
Ella Halikas
Each year, she learned lessons along the way and continuously improved herself.
For years, she publicly tried out during their annual Swim Search and took people along the journey with her online.
The first year she auditioned, she was living in Hawaii and was “very beginner” with no brand work, so she just put herself out there and “shot for the moon.”
The following year, she built more traction by negotiating her own brand deals and even hired a videographer.
Although she didn’t get a coveted spot that year, her dedication to getting noticed brought her all the way to Miami.
GAINING ATTENTION
She waited in line at 5 am at an open casting call with a composite model card she printed with her photos and measurements at a local post office.
That year her video was still featured on the Sports Illustrated Instagram account, when she only had around 3,000 followers, so she was definitely on their radar.
Those parts of my body that I hated, I now love. My bigger hips, thicker thighs, I love that part about myself now. And I think for so long, I hated that.
Ella Halikas
“Show up for yourself day in and out. Stay consistent with what you want and your goals,” she said.
But ultimately, she felt like she didn’t have her message down and didn’t look the part at the time.
“I felt like there was a need in the industry for representation for my size and my message that I had for everyone to be the best version of yourself and to not kind of fit into a box,” she explained.
“By the third year though, I had just moved to LA. We’re hitting the ground running. I booked myself a Snapchat commercial, commercial, a JCPenney commercial,” she explained.
“I felt momentum coming and I also felt like their eyes were watching me. I felt like after three years of them seeing my videos, they were probably like, ‘All right, who’s this girl Ella?'”
For her third submission video, she hired a professional makeup artist, and videographer, and made it a “more legit production” that was “well executed.”
THICK GIRL CONFIDENCE
Now Ella boasts over 268,000 on Instagram and over 700,000 on her TikTok.
She has since dubbed herself the “CEO of Confidence” because she was “tired of not feeling confident” with her figure and decided to focus internally on self-improvement.
“Those parts of my body that I hated, I now love,” she said.
“My bigger hips, thicker thighs, I love that part about myself now. And I think for so long, I hated that.”
When people are spewing hate and calling me names, saying you’re so fat and ugly or go to the gym or whatever, I know it’s not personal. I’m not owning that. That’s not me. It’s you.
Ella Halikas
She admitted that it was not an “overnight thing” and took years of work, affirmations, good habits, and getting rid of the “toxic people or the people that don’t make you feel good.”
“I walked my a*s into the grocery store in my Calvin Klein underwear, bra. I was scared. I say CEO of confidence, but in that moment, I was freaking out, shaking,” she admitted.
“There are times where I’m human. I’m going to have bad days, but I’m learning every day and working hard.”
HEALING FROM THE HURT
Ella revealed that although she carries herself with confidence she does receive a lot of negative comments, especially on her TikTok.
Viewers have said hurtful things like, “She walks faster to McDonald’s than the runway.”
If it’s a post of her just enjoying herself on the beach, trolls tell her to get off and “go to the gym.”
But she said she doesn’t take 99% of the things personally.
“When people are spewing hate and calling me names, saying you’re so fat and ugly or go to the gym or whatever, I know it’s not personal. I’m not owning that. That’s not me. It’s you,” she said.
That’s why Ella started her “Thick Girls Can Rock This Fit Too” online series, where she recreates iconic looks from other notable personalities who the “ideal beauty standard” on her size 14 shape.
“What if I do that, but put it on me and showcase a whole new look of this outfit or creation and just recreate it on my figure?” she said.
She started doing it with Julia Fox because, at the time, she thought she was at the forefront of “pushing fashion standards.”
The social media maven also recreated a nude leggings and bustier look from Bella Hadid who she called a “supermodel that everyone looks up to.”
Her most meaningful and daring ensemble was when she donned white lingerie and white angel wings to show that angels can be thick too, as a subtle clapback at Victoria’s Secret.
CAREER HIGHS
Since her quick catapult to stardom, Ella has brushed shoulders with many of the faces and minds behind fashion brands she aspired to work with and even had on her vision board.
“It’s just a really cool full circle moment to be surrounded by these powerhouse women, but then also have their support in this industry,” she said.
I’m a size 14, but I’m consistently in the gym. Strength comes in every size and you can’t look at someone and immediately just determine their health levels.
Ella Halikas
For years, Iskra Lawrence was renowned in the body image world and Ella said they’re now friends on Instagram.
“Josephine Scriver, Victoria’s Secret Angel, I’m close with her. Jasmine Sanders, close with her,” she added.
“Granted, we have different body types, but I’m still so inspired by them.
“They opened up their arms to me and were almost like mentors to me if I needed anything.”
Ella admitted that next on her bucket list is to work with “powerful and inclusive” fitness brands like Nike and Adidas.
“I’m a size 14, but I’m consistently in the gym. Strength comes in every size and you can’t look at someone and immediately just determine their health levels,” she explained.
As a self-described girly girl, she makes it a priority to encourage other women to “be your biggest hype woman and clap for yourself when no one’s there.”
“You bring something to the table that quite literally not one other human being brings to the table,” she added.
“There’s only one you in this world, and that is your superpower.”
