Gabriella “Ella” Athena Halikas, the breakout star of the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, is of Greek descent, despite being born in the U.S.
The swimsuit model was raised by her parents in Walnut Creek, California, in a Greek Orthodox tradition, and is a proud Alumnus of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Before busting into the scene for Sports Illustrated, the plus-size model previously walked the runway at Miami Swim Week in 2020 and 2021.
She is one of the many individuals who rose from social media to mainstream modeling. Halikas has over a million followers across her social media platforms.
The 28-year-old first gained fame when she was pictured by Yu Tsai for Sports Illustrated in a plus-size project.
Since then, he has made a statement, working for various brands and companies, including JCPenney, Snapchat, Berry Beachy Swimwear, Porche, and Macy’s.
The swimsuit star and modeling coach is currently bound with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and Ford Models.
The model calls herself “CEO of Confidence,” suggesting she is highly proud of the way she embraces her body and helps others love their bodies, regardless of size, while staying healthy at the same time.
A Cousin of a Paralympian
Gabriella is also a cousin of Eliana Mason, a 30-year-old Paralympic goalball athlete for the U.S., who also shares the Greek roots.
Mason first discovered goalball, a team sport specifically designed for athletes with visual impairments, at the age of 14. She also shared a passion for cheerleading, gymnastics, and soccer when she was in school.
Mason’s first International tournament for Team USA was the IBSA Goalball World Championship in 2014, where she brought home the gold medal.
Her other achievements include a Bronze medal and a Silver medal in 2016 and the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. She has also received multiple medals at the Parapan American Games in 2015, 2019, and 2023.
Eliana is also a licensed counselor and mental health and disability advocate who has inspired thousands of people worldwide and run awareness programs.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ella Halikas was born on July 15, 1997, while her cousin Eliana Mason was born on September 1, 1995, with glaucoma and cataracts.
- Eliana Mason is married to Calahan Young, the captain of the U.S. Men’s Goalball Team.
- The Paralympian got her Bachelor’s (Psychology and Child & Family Studies) and Master’s degrees (Clinical Mental Health Counseling) from Portland State and Antioch University.
