Conversations with Cam

Never Give Up on Your Dreams No Matter How Many “No’s” You Get Along the Way with Ella Halikas

Dec 14, 2022

Ella Halikas, a Sports Illustrated model and body positivity advocate, shares her inspiring journey from capturing beach photos to gracing magazine covers. She emphasizes the importance of confidence as a mindset and discusses her desire for the term "curve model" to eventually vanish. Ella recounts her encounters with rejection, including a recent club incident, and highlights the empowerment behind her series "Thick Girls Can Rock This Fit Too." Expect uplifting insights on resilience, self-worth, and turning failures into fuel for dreams.

46:56

Episode guests

Ella Halikas

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Ella Halikas emphasizes that true confidence is a mindset that transcends physical appearance, encouraging self-acceptance regardless of size.

The podcast critiques the labeling of 'curve model' versus 'model,' advocating for a future where all models are recognized without qualifiers.

Ella's journey highlights resilience, illustrating how persistence in the face of rejection is key to achieving dreams, like her Sports Illustrated success.

Deep dives

The Power of Confidence and Body Positivity

Confidence plays a crucial role in one's self-image, particularly for curvier women in the modeling industry. The importance of self-acceptance, regardless of size, is emphasized, with discussions highlighting that true confidence transcends physical appearance. The guest, Ella Halikas, expresses that despite being a size 14—her largest ever—she feels more confident than ever. This starkly contrasts with societal beliefs that equate body size with self-worth, reinforcing the idea that confidence comes from within.

Intro

3min

Redefining Beauty Standards

8min

The Journey of Representation and Personal Aspirations

4min

Resilience in the Face of Rejection

18min

Navigating Modern Dating: Confidence and Manifestation

3min

Confidence, Objectification, and Body Positivity

6min

Embracing Self-Worth in a Negative World

7min

In this episode, I sit down with Ella Halikas to discuss how she has honed her confidence mindset, how she began her modeling career from taking photos on the beach, and why she hopes the term “curve model” will be irrelevant in the future. We dive into Ella’s storied and relentless pursuit of becoming a Sports Illustrated model, how timing is everything when it comes to your dreams coming true, and why failure excites her more than anything. We also get into what happened when she and a friend were recently rejected from a club for their sizes, how she began her “Thick Girls Can Rock This Fit Too” series, and how she doesn’t let negative comments dull her shine.

Key Takeaway / Points:

Society’s notions of “curve model” vs. “model”
How confidence is truly a mindset
How Ella began modeling after taking photos on the beach in college
Ella’s relentless pursuit of becoming a Sports Illustrated model
On being ready for your dreams to come true
Allowing ourselves to pause and savor our successes
Why failure excites Ella
What happened when Ella and her friend were recently rejected from a club for their size
On asking yourself what you want before heading into dating
How Ella began her “Thick Girls Can Rock This Fit Too” series
How to navigate a triggering environment for your confidence and body image