Woman Makes Waves by Recreating Celebrity Looks to Show That You Don’t Have to Be a Size Zero to Be Classy

Ella Halikas is boldly reshaping the definition of style. The plus-size model has recently gained widespread attention for her fearless takes on celebrities’ iconic outfits, proving that fashion knows no size limits. With her vibrant energy and unwavering confidence, Halikas is doing more than making a statement — she’s sparking an inspiring conversation about body positivity and self-love.

Ella Halikas — a curvy fashion influencer.

For Halikas, this journey isn’t merely about mimicking celebrity outfits; it’s about adapting fashion to suit diverse body types. She’s eager to experiment with looks inspired by other stars, including Bella Hadid.

Halikas first stepped into the spotlight in 2021, when she was photographed by renowned photographer Yu Tsai for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition in Atlantic City. Inspired by trailblazers like Ashley Graham and Hunter McGrady, Halikas called her appearance in the magazine a dream realized.

She hoped her daring fashion choices would ignite a broader conversation about body positivity.

To capture Fox’s iconic supermarket look, Halikas ventured into a grocery store in Beverly Hills. She emphasized that the key to making any look work is confidence, not just body type. It’s about how one carries themselves and feels inside,

“It’s not so much about body type. It’s about how you carry yourself. It’s not about how you look physically. It’s about how you feel mentally. You have to walk with your chest up high and feel good. When you see the photos, you have to feel the confidence, the energy. That’s what makes people go, ‘She looks good.’
If I had walked to that store all covered up and my chin down looking nervous, people would say, ‘That’s not flattering, put some clothes on. What are you doing?’ You have to own your body, and you have to own your look. If you can have that mental shift and find that confidence, then you can pull off anything.”

Looking back on Julia Fox’s low-rise trend that took over social media, Halikas laughed, remembering how many curvier women were hesitant to give it a try. She often came across TikTok videos of women voicing their reluctance, citing body image concerns as a reason to avoid the trend.

Motivated by these reactions, Halikas felt a strong urge to push back against the narrative, emphasizing that everyone, no matter their body type, deserves to feel confident and empowered.

She shared her goal of inspiring others to embrace their unique shapes and explore new fashion trends, regardless of societal pressures. Halikas also reflected on the overwhelming positive support she received from her followers, recognizing the hard work that goes into each photoshoot, even when there’s no financial reward.

Today, Halikas aspires to be a beacon of inspiration for women who deserve recognition in the fashion industry. She emphasizes the distinction between body positivity and body neutrality, explaining that body positivity is about loving oneself without wanting to change, while body neutrality allows for acceptance of change.

For her, embracing body neutrality means loving her body while also seeking improvement. Halikas enjoys working out for reasons beyond weight loss; she focuses on getting toned and enhancing her mental well-being.

To stay physically and mentally healthy, Halikas includes Pilates and weightlifting in her routine, along with soccer, hot yoga, and the occasional jog. She encourages anyone who feels intimidated by the gym to keep in mind that most people are focused on their own workouts, not on judging others.

“In life, we always think people are looking at us and judging, whether it’s when we’re wearing a new outfit or at the gym. Most people, especially nowadays, are just so concerned with themselves. If you’re intimidated, get a workout buddy or meet with a trainer,” advises Halikas.

“I also go to a Pilates class, and I’m probably the biggest girl there... But in a way, it empowers me. I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, I’m twice your size, but look what I can do.’ Health and fitness look different in every single body. I’m all about feeling strong to be my best self.”

Ultimately, Halikas advises against comparing oneself to others, especially during the summer when many are flaunting bikinis. She believes there is immense power in embracing one’s uniqueness and encourages everyone to celebrate their individuality. It’s a challenging journey, but the joy of self-acceptance makes it worthwhile.

Other plus-size fashion pioneers: Katie Sturino

While Ella Halikas is making a splash in the fashion world, she’s not alone in challenging beauty standards. Katie Sturino has long been a cherished presence on Instagram, using humor to address the challenges plus-size women face, such as the lack of larger sizes in trendy brands. Sturino proves that anyone can dress like royalty, regardless of their size. In this piece, we celebrate the most stylish plus-size bloggers who are leading the charge for inclusivity in fashion, inspiring countless women to embrace their unique styles.

With over 800,000 followers, Katie Sturino has become a true style icon for many. She brings attention to ’uncomfortable’ issues that often get overlooked by other bloggers, fearlessly speaking out about topics like body image. Early in her career, she aimed to promote radical self-acceptance for all women, and she’s clearly succeeding!

Katie uses her platform to highlight everyday struggles that many women encounter but seldom talk about. From the anxiety of trying on jeans to the difficulty of zipping up a stubborn dress, and even the all-too-familiar issue of summer thigh chafing, she addresses it all with honesty and humor. Through her posts, Katie reassures plus-size women that they’re not alone in their experiences and encourages them to practice self-compassion.

Moreover, Sturino is not shy about calling out clothing manufacturers for their lack of size inclusivity, stressing that there are plenty of women who wear sizes larger than XL. She does this with a dash of irony and sarcasm, even placing a famous mass-market brand on her blacklist for repeatedly disappointing plus-size shoppers.

One of Katie’s favorite pastimes is recreating celebrity fashion looks — down to the accessories, poses, and expressions. Her Instagram is filled with these collages, demonstrating to her followers that looking stylish doesn’t require a model-like physique. With her wit and charm, Sturino continues to inspire women everywhere to dress boldly and authentically.

Gabi Gregg

Since 2011, Gabi Gregg has been a pioneering force on Instagram, demonstrating that fashion influencers come in all shapes and sizes. Her Instagram following has now grown to nearly 1 million, with fans who fully embrace this message. Gregg’s bold move of posting a photo of her curvy figure in a bikini sparked significant attention, even earning a mention in InStyle as part of a broader discussion on moving beyond the outdated concept of a “bikini body.”

But Gregg is more than just an influencer. With a background in fashion media, she harnessed her expertise and passion for bold styles to launch her own line for plus-size women seeking vibrant wardrobe options. As one-half of the dynamic duo behind the popular 2017 plus-size fashion line Premme, Gregg challenged the notion that plus-size women should stick to all black or shy away from showing some skin. Premme’s debut collection featured eye-catching crop tops and rich jewel tones, showcasing trends that mirrored those seen on the runways. In short, it was pure fashion. The collection was such a hit that Gregg and her co-founder, Nicolette Mason, were invited onto the Today Show to showcase their pieces that summer.

Despite Premme closing in 2019, Gabi Gregg has continued to grow her fashion empire. She now designs collections for Fashion to Figure, with pieces priced around $100. Recognizing the importance of representation, particularly for plus-size Black women in fashion, Gregg has prioritized featuring women of color as models across her entire line, with all models being size 12 and up.

For more inspiration, take a look at our article about a girl who recreates celebrity outfits to demonstrate that clothes can look great on anyone.