Alexia Eleni: Meet the model advocating for body positivity in Australia

·

By Martina Simos

South Australian plus-size model, Alexia Eleni, has a message to all her 6,000 Instagram followers and it’s quite simple – enjoy life.

Alexia has both Greek and Serbian heritage. Her mother was born to a Serbian father and Greek mother who had met in Peterborough – a town in the mid-north of SA.

The 27-year-old credits her yiayia Eleni for embracing everything in life, including her curves.

Alexia with her yiayia. Photo supplied.

“We grew up in a Greek household and my Serbian pappou – mum’s dad – adopted the Greek culture. He learned to speak Greek,” Alexia tells The Greek Herald.

“I’m proud of everything Greek and being really close to my [Greek] yiayia. My yiayia Eleni is so full of life, even if she is 83.”

Confidence to get to where she is today wasn’t an easy path for Alexia, who as a teen struggled to accept her weight. She says she became ‘obsessed with scales’ and was into ‘diet culture.’

“I would put a lot of ownership on the number that was on the scales and that really messed with my head,” she says. 

“It messed with my mental health and it messed how I looked at my body… I was obsessed with the scales and going to the gym. I’ve never been a smaller normal size, if you will.

“It was really difficult to try and be nice to myself.”

Alexia says she also struggled with body dysmorphia – a mental health condition where a person can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in their appearance.

“I would look a certain way [after losing weight] but then in the mirror, I would see something different,” she says.

“I was probably a size 10 then and that was a result of me being completely miserable.”

These days, Alexia juggles a busy life as a director of her creative marketing agency Lexicon Creative and as a plus-size model.  

As plus-size models are being used more and more to promote healthy body image, it’s not surprising that a study by Florida State University researchers found women are more likely to remember an average or a plus-size model in the media.

Alexia says that as a micro-influencer it’s important for women and men to take life a little less seriously and not focus on what others think.

Her social media posts reflect a philosophy and attitude in how she likes to live life to its fullest.

“The rise of the micro-influencer is taking off because they have a more concentrated influence style on their followers,” she concludes.

“I just promote who I am, filter or no filter, and I keep it real because we can get caught up. Everyone is a size they want to be.”

greek film festival sydney new

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Gavdos migrant boat video sparks debate amid surge in arrivals

A video filmed on Gavdos island has gone viral, showing locals pushing a migrant boat into deeper waters near Sarakiniko beach.

Greece and Libya move toward EEZ agreement in Athens talks

A meeting in Athens between Greek FM George Gerapetritis and acting Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Salem Al Baour has paved the way.

Let’s Go Greek Festival to make history with 500kg gyros in Parramatta

Parramatta will soon be serving up history as the Let’s Go Greek Festival returns on September 21 - with the creation of the largest gyros.

A Life, A Tradition: The Greek Lyceum of SA’s ‘Cycle of Life’ performance

The Greek Lyceum of South Australia transformed the stage into a platform for artistry and community spirit on Sunday, September 14.

Zeibekiko Festival Australia brings dance and song to Melbourne this October

Melbourne will be at the heart of the 3rd Zeibekiko Festival Australia with a rich program of events to the city from 4–5 October.

You May Also Like

Greek Orthodox church bans lawmakers who backed same-sex marriage in Greece

The Orthodox Church in Corfu, Greece has taken action to impose a religious ban on two lawmakers who supported the reform.

President of the Cyprus Community NSW: ‘Our priority is to restore members’

The Greek Herald sat down with President of the Cyprus Community NSW, Andrew Costa, to speak about his plans for the future of the Community.

Melbourne surgeon George Dimitroulis accused of negligence over ‘experimental’ jaw device

Dr George Dimitroulis, a Melbourne surgeon, is being sued by a former patient in a Victorian court. He is accused of negligence.