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

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.

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. 1 2 3 4 5 Stories, Local (June 27, 2022). "Rising Stars: Meet Ella Halikas - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com.
  2. 1 2 "Secrets of Walnut Creek's curvy Sports Illustrated model". January 3, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "127. Ella Halikas on Building Delusional Confidence, Overcoming Fear of Failure & Dating Insecurities". THE CONFIDENT COLLECTIVE. March 21, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "MY BIG, FAT, GREEK FAMILY *REUNION* VLOG". YouTube. December 10, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Ella Halikas | Miami | Ford Models". fordmodels.com.
  6. 1 2 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. 1 2 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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