Ella Halikas

Gabriella Athena Halikas is an American model, TikToker, and body positivity activist. A plus-size model, she appeared in adverstisements for JCPenney and Snapchat before becoming a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model in 2021. Halikas walked the runway at Miami Swim Week in 2020 and 2021.

Ella Halikas
BornWalnut Creek, California, U.S.
Alma materWashington State University
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Occupations
  • Model
  • TikToker
  • Activist
RelativesEliana Mason (cousin)
Modeling information
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorBrown
AgencyFord Models
Websitewww.ellahalikas.com

Early life and education

Halikas grew up in Walnut Creek, a town in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1][2] She is Greek American and was raised in the Greek Orthodox faith.[3][4] She is a cousin of goalball player Eliana Mason.[4] Halikas studied at Washington State University before transferring to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she graduated in 2019.[1]

Career

In 2020, Halikas lost her job as a waitress at a restaurant in San Francisco due to the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to Los Angeles to pursue modelling and social media influencing.[1] She was scouted by a modeling agent on Instagram, based in San Francisco.[1] Halikas was featured in commercials for JCPenney and Snapchat.[1] Halikas later signed with Ford Models as a model and content creator.[5] In 2021, Halikas was featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.[6][2][7] She was photographed by Yu Tsai in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the magazine spread.[6][8] In July 2021, she walked the runway at Miami Swim Week for Berry Beachy Swimwear, Cupshe, and VDM The Label.[9][10] She had previously walked in Miami Swim Week in 2020.[10]

Halikas is a public speaker and activist for body positivity and confidence.[3][11][12] She uses her TikTok and Instagram accounts to promote body positivity.[13][14] She partnered with the Canadian company Pebbles & Palms to launch a plus-size swimwear line.[15]

In March 2023, Halikas was featured in Robbie Tripp's music video for his song Basic Bro.[3][16]

Personal life

In 2022, Halikas and plus-size model Alexa Jay were reportedly barred entry from The Highlight Room, an exclusive club Los Angeles.[17][18] They posted about their experience on TikTok, claiming that they were denied entry because of their weight.[19] The video received over one million views.[20]

References
  1. Stories, Local (June 27, 2022). "Rising Stars: Meet Ella Halikas - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com.
  2. "Secrets of Walnut Creek's curvy Sports Illustrated model". January 3, 2022.
  3. "127. Ella Halikas on Building Delusional Confidence, Overcoming Fear of Failure & Dating Insecurities". THE CONFIDENT COLLECTIVE. March 21, 2023.
  4. "MY BIG, FAT, GREEK FAMILY *REUNION* VLOG". YouTube. December 10, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  5. "Ella Halikas | Miami | Ford Models". fordmodels.com.
  6. Swimsuit, S. I. (July 19, 2021). "Ella Halikas 2021 SI Swimsuit Photos". Swimsuit | SI.com.
  7. Ryan, Maggie (June 7, 2022). "SI Swimsuit Model Ella Halikas Wants You to Know "Health and Fitness Look Different on Every Body"". POPSUGAR Fitness.
  8. Panchal, Ananya (February 14, 2023). "5 Stunning Photos of Gabriella Halikas in Atlantic City". Swimsuit | SI.com.
  9. Holender, Samantha (July 12, 2021). "2021 'Sports Illustrated' Fashion Show Was the Brand's Most Inclusive Yet". US Weekly. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  10. Halikas, Gabriella (July 21, 2021). "Gabriella Halikas Took Miami Swim Week by Storm". Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The Arena Group. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  11. O’Bleness, Cara (January 31, 2023). "SI Swim Search Finalist Gabriella Halikas Shares Her Tips for Extraordinary Confidence". Swimsuit | SI.com.
  12. "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Ella Halikas shares where she gets her 'delusional confidence' from". Yahoo Life. March 30, 2023.
  13. Nolasco, Stephanie (August 4, 2022). "SI Swim model Ella Halikas talks going viral after recreating Julia Fox's style: 'You have to own your body'". Fox News.
  14. Furdyk, Brent (August 31, 2022). "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Ella Halikas Recreates Kim Kardashian's Vintage Swimsuit Look But 'On A Curvier Body Type'". ET Canada. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022.
  15. says, George john. "Ella Halikas – BELLO Mag".
  16. "Las Vegas Rapper Robbie Tripp Shocks Rap Industry with "Basic Bro" Music Video". Independent Arts and Music Insider. April 20, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  17. Lisitza, Alexa (November 29, 2022). "After Being Turned Away From A Club Because Of Their Size, These Women Are Calling For A Change In Nightclub Policies". BuzzFeed.
  18. Gamble, Jalen Brown,Justin (November 13, 2022). "Two plus-size models say they were denied entry to a Los Angeles lounge and 'no one wants to stand up for you'". CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. "Body Positivity Influencers Ella Halikas and Alexa Jay Start Hashtag #NotTonight After Viral Incident at LA Nightclub". NowThis News. 14 November 2022.
  20. "Two influencers say they were denied entry to a club because of their size. Now, they're empowering others to speak out". NBC News. November 8, 2022.
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