Ella Halikas
{{short description|American model and social media influencer}}
{{Infobox model
| name = Ella Halikas
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = Walnut Creek, California, U.S.
| birth_place =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Model
- TikToker
- Activist}}
| yearsactive =
| height = 5'7"
| haircolor = Brown
| eyecolor = Brown
| agency = Ford Models
| alias =
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives = Eliana Mason (cousin)
| alma_mater = Washington State University
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
| module = {{Infobox TikTok personality|embed=yes|name=Ella Halikas|followers=732.6K|page=ellahalikas|stats_update= December 13, 2024|likes=20.9M}}
| website = {{URL|www.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. She is Greek American and was raised in the Greek Orthodox faith. She is a cousin of goalball player Eliana Mason.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxVaV2jW14Y|title= MY BIG, FAT, GREEK FAMILY *REUNION* VLOG|date= December 10, 2019 |website= YouTube|access-date= May 19, 2023}} Halikas studied at Washington State University before transferring to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she graduated in 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://voyagela.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-ella-halikas-of-los-angeles/|title=Rising Stars: Meet Ella Halikas - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide|first=Local|last=Stories|date=June 27, 2022|website=voyagela.com}}
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. She was scouted by a modeling agent on Instagram, based in San Francisco. Halikas was featured in commercials for JCPenney and Snapchat. Halikas later signed with Ford Models as a model and content creator.{{Cite web|url=https://fordmodels.com/miami/profile/ella-halikas/?board=women|title=Ella Halikas | Miami | Ford Models|website=fordmodels.com}} In 2021, Halikas was featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.{{Cite web|url=https://swimsuit.si.com/swimsuit/model/swimsuit-model-ella-halikas-2021-photos|title=Ella Halikas 2021 SI Swimsuit Photos|first=S. I.|last=Swimsuit|date=July 19, 2021|website=Swimsuit | SI.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/03/secrets-of-walnut-creeks-curvy-sports-illustrated-model|title=Secrets of Walnut Creek's curvy Sports Illustrated model|date=January 3, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/node/48849613|title=SI Swimsuit Model Ella Halikas Wants You to Know "Health and Fitness Look Different on Every Body"|first=Maggie|last=Ryan|date=June 7, 2022|website=POPSUGAR Fitness}} She was photographed by Yu Tsai in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the magazine spread.{{Cite web|url=https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/5-stunning-photos-of-ella-halikas-in-atlantic-city|title=5 Stunning Photos of Gabriella Halikas in Atlantic City|first=Ananya|last=Panchal|date=February 14, 2023|website=Swimsuit | SI.com}} In July 2021, she walked the runway at Miami Swim Week for Berry Beachy Swimwear, Cupshe, and VDM The Label.{{cite web |url= https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/news/sports-illustrated-2021-fashion-show-features-plus-size-models/|title= 2021 'Sports Illustrated' Fashion Show Was the Brand's Most Inclusive Yet|last= Holender |first= Samantha |date= July 12, 2021|website= US Weekly|access-date= May 19, 2023}}{{cite web |url= https://swimsuit.si.com/swimlife/ella-halikas-took-miami-swim-week-by-storm|title= Gabriella Halikas Took Miami Swim Week by Storm|last= Halikas|first= Gabriella|date= July 21, 2021|website= Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue|publisher= The Arena Group|access-date= May 19, 2023}} She had previously walked in Miami Swim Week in 2020.
Halikas is a public speaker and activist for body positivity and confidence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/podcast/ella-halikas-on-building-delusional-confidence-overcoming-fear-of-failure-amp-dating-insecurities|title=127. Ella Halikas on Building Delusional Confidence, Overcoming Fear of Failure & Dating Insecurities|date=March 21, 2023|website=THE CONFIDENT COLLECTIVE}}{{Cite web|url=https://swimsuit.si.com/swimlife/si-swim-search-finalist-gabriella-halikas-shares-her-tips-for-extraordinary-confidence|title=SI Swim Search Finalist Gabriella Halikas Shares Her Tips for Extraordinary Confidence|first=Cara|last=O’Bleness|date=January 31, 2023|website=Swimsuit | SI.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/sports-illustrated-swimsuit-model-ella-halikas-delusional-confidence-193644020.html|title=Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Ella Halikas shares where she gets her 'delusional confidence' from|date=March 30, 2023|website=Yahoo Life}} She uses her TikTok and Instagram accounts to promote body positivity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/si-swim-model-ella-halikas-talks-going-viral-after-recreating-julia-fox|title=SI Swim model Ella Halikas talks going viral after recreating Julia Fox's style: 'You have to own your body'|first=Stephanie|last=Nolasco|date=August 4, 2022|website=Fox News}}{{Cite web|url=https://etcanada.com/news/925164/sports-illustrated-swimsuit-model-ella-halikas-recreates-kim-kardashians-vintage-swimsuit-look-but-on-a-curvier-body-type/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831234733/https://etcanada.com/news/925164/sports-illustrated-swimsuit-model-ella-halikas-recreates-kim-kardashians-vintage-swimsuit-look-but-on-a-curvier-body-type/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 31, 2022|title=Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Ella Halikas Recreates Kim Kardashian's Vintage Swimsuit Look But 'On A Curvier Body Type'|first=Brent|last=Furdyk|date=August 31, 2022|website=ET Canada}} She partnered with the Canadian company Pebbles & Palms to launch a plus-size swimwear line.{{Cite web|url=https://bellomag.com/ux-portfolio/ella-halikas/|title=Ella Halikas – BELLO Mag|first=George john|last=says}}
In March 2023, Halikas was featured in Robbie Tripp's music video for his song Basic Bro.{{cite web |url= https://imaai.org/las-vegas-rapper-robbie-tripp-shocks-rap-industry-with-basic-bro-music-video/|title= Las Vegas Rapper Robbie Tripp Shocks Rap Industry with "Basic Bro" Music Video|date= April 20, 2023|website= Independent Arts and Music Insider|access-date= May 19, 2023}}
Personal life
In 2022, Halikas and plus-size model Alexa Jay were reportedly barred entry from The Highlight Room, an exclusive club Los Angeles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexalisitza/curve-models-denied-club-entry-tiktok|title=After Being Turned Away From A Club Because Of Their Size, These Women Are Calling For A Change In Nightclub Policies|first=Alexa|last=Lisitza|date=November 29, 2022|website=BuzzFeed}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/us/los-angeles-plus-size-models-discrimination-reaj/index.html|title=Two plus-size models say they were denied entry to a Los Angeles lounge and 'no one wants to stand up for you'|first=Jalen Brown, Justin|last=Gamble|date=November 13, 2022|website=CNN}} They posted about their experience on TikTok, claiming that they were denied entry because of their weight.{{Cite web|url=https://nowthisnews.com/news/body-positivity-influencers-ella-halikas-and-alexa-jay-start-hashtag-nottonight-after-viral|title=Body Positivity Influencers Ella Halikas and Alexa Jay Start Hashtag #NotTonight After Viral Incident at LA Nightclub|website=NowThis News|date=14 November 2022 }} The video received over one million views.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/two-influencers-say-denied-entry-club-size-rcna55993|title=Two influencers say they were denied entry to a club because of their size. Now, they're empowering others to speak out.|date=November 8, 2022|website=NBC News}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halikas, Ella}}
Category:Activists from California
Category:American female models
Category:American people of Greek descent
Category:American women activists
Category:Fat acceptance activists
Category:Female models from California
Category:Greek Orthodox Christians from the United States
Category:People from Walnut Creek, California
Category:American social media influencers
Category:University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumni
Category:Washington State University alumni