llana Bryan is pursuing her goal of becoming a body-positive and inspirational model. In Los Angeles, a city known for its ever-changing trends, she has experienced both positive and challenging influences. She chooses her words carefully when using her social media accounts. "The plus-size modeling industry sometimes makes me upset. Women might falsify how big they are, which is the flip side of the industry," Ellana recalls.
"When I was growing up, everyone was wearing ultra-low-cut jeans and crop tops. It was all about G-strings and low-cut everything, with no regard for body types. For a long time, I downplayed myself." Before moving to LA to pursue her dreams, Ellana forced herself to dress a certain way to be taken seriously. "I didn’t want to be seen as a sexual object."
"Luckily, it's becoming more popular to dress curvy bodies," Ellana notes. "But at your core, you need to dress for yourself, no matter where you are. I don’t like when one body type is portrayed as better than another. I’ve even seen so-called ‘positive’ models shaming other body types."
Ellana has dealt with mental health stigma personally, feeling pressured to be a different version of herself. "I’ve had to study self-care and discover what truly makes me happy and what I really want." She is determined to spread positive energy despite the challenges and complexities of trends in the modeling industry. "I want to do what I do with good intentions."
Ellana presents herself authentically, often posting pictures without makeup and in everyday clothes. "I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon of curvy models. I know people who have gained weight to become plus-size models and done things they’re uncomfortable with. They still carry the mental stigma of having to fit a certain image."
When Ellana considered losing weight, some people in her circle suggested cosmetic surgery as a quick fix. However, she was determined to lose weight naturally. "I did my best to be healthy. I wasn’t going to lose thirty pounds just to go to a party." When she hears someone say, "I should just get a boob job," she asks, "Do you want that, or do you feel like you have to?"
"I'm in between sizes," she explains, noting that she isn’t signed with either a ‘regular’ or ‘plus-size’ modeling agency. "It's just as harmful to force a body to gain weight as it is to starve it to lose weight."
"You’re only going to be yourself in your life. You should be able to do what you want to do and with the right intentions. Don’t listen to other people about who you should be, and live following your own conscience. You’re going to have one life only, so don’t wait to do what you want to do."
"My main goal is to take care of myself," Ellana says. She finds balance through holistic medicine, a balanced diet, and regular exercise. "It sounds so simple, but you can get frustrated with people, and it’s not their fault. But you need sleep." When she feels her internal energy is balanced, she knows she can contribute more positively to the world. "It’s not just for hippies. I’m still a normal person—I drink with my friends and watch football. But this lifestyle is achievable for me, a regular girl."
To follow Ellana and her journey, please visit @ellanabryan
