CURVE MODEL | BODY POSITIVITY ADVOCATE | SKIN CONDITION AWARENESS CAMPAIGNER

Onella has made a huge impact on the Australian fashion scene since winning Bella Management’s Unsigned Model Competition in 2021. A proud advocate for body positivity and mental health, Onella uses her platform to challenge traditional beauty standards and promote individuality, through global campaigns and curated social media content.

Onella’s story

Onella was born in Bangladesh to Sri Lankan parents and moved to Australia with her family at the age of eight. While she doesn’t see it as a struggle, from the age of two, Onella developed vitiligo, a skin condition where pigmentation is lost from different areas of the skin and body. With very few curve models representing skin conditions, Onella unintentionally set out to normalise real beauty, using both her modelling work and social media platform to show a ‘real person’.

Despite a successful career in modelling, Onella’s relationship with her body has not always been easy. “I had people tell me in the past, ‘you should model, you should do it’,” she recalls. “And I always thought, ‘Well, no, I’m not a model. I’m five foot. I’m not tall enough. I’m curvy. I have a very apparent skin condition … that’s not what a model is.’”

But her mindset began to change, and in 2021, Onella entered the Bella Management Unsigned Model Competition on a whim, not realising she was entering a contest. “I thought I was just putting in my application for the agency, and then I got a call saying I was a finalist,” she laughs. “A few weeks later, I won. That really propelled me in the industry.”

With her vitiligo, Onella quickly became an advocate for diversity in fashion. “For me, modelling was never about being ‘the pretty girl’ — I just saw it as making a difference, representing people who’d never seen themselves represented,” she says.

“Growing up, I didn’t see anyone with my skin condition in campaigns. I remember scrolling through the GymShark website one day and seeing someone with vitiligo … I was so excited to see someone else like me, and I used that as inspiration for what I’m doing now.”

Since signing with Bella Management (now ICON Management), Onella has been the face of major brands including Mecca, Bonds, Sportsgirl, Lululemon, Garnier and Dermal Therapy. She’s walked in Melbourne and Australian Fashion Weeks, and took part in the L’Oreal Paris Walk Your Worth Runway, their first Australian Runway. Onella has been photographed for Gritty Pretty by renowned Australian photographer Bonnie Hansen, and featured in Marie Claire Australia, Vogue Australia, and on TV shows like Channel 10’s Studio 10 and Channel 7’s House of Wellness.

Creating impact 

The response to Onella’s work has been overwhelmingly positive, both from the fashion industry and the public. “I’ve had such a good experience with my skin and body size. I feel lucky not to have faced bullying in school or in the industry,” she reflects. “I know that’s not the case for everyone, and I carry that gratitude with me.”

Onella’s message has resonated deeply with her followers. “I’ve had people message me saying they hope their seven-year-old child with vitiligo grows up as confident as I am,” she says. “It’s powerful to see how just being visible can make a difference in someone’s life.” 

Although Onella does receive the occasional negative comment, she doesn’t let it define her. “When the hate comments come, we know the video has gone viral. I can brush it off, but I’m more concerned that other people reading it might feel the negative connotation to their identity. Society places so much value on appearance, but there’s so much more to health than how we look,” she says. 

“I think people really love seeing someone who’s different. They don’t need to have vitiligo, but they can see someone who doesn’t fit into just one beauty standard. Society often gets stuck on the idea that beauty means fitting a certain size, weight, or having specific facial features. There’s a lot of pressure, especially for women, and it’s all over social media too. I think people find it refreshing and normal that I’m happy to look different. As much as we celebrate our similarities, we should also be celebrating our differences.”

Her mission

Onella uses her platform to promote skin positivity and body confidence. “I don’t wear makeup every day, and that’s something I try to share with my audience,” she says. “It’s about embracing your natural beauty and not feeling pressured to fit into a trend. We should all feel comfortable being who we are.”

Her social media reflects this mission. “A lot of the content I post is about trying new things — whether it’s a new style or colour, it’s about showing people that they can express themselves however they want, no matter their body size or shape.”

Onella’s journey has had its challenges. “I sometimes still feel that pull to want to change, like if I just lost a bit of weight here or there,” she admits. “But I’ve learnt that I’m enough as I am. And I want to help others unlearn these harmful beliefs.”

And Onella is passionate about breaking these beauty norms. “We need to understand that just because someone has fat on their body doesn’t mean they’re unhealthy. Health is so much more than how we look on the outside.”

Recently, Onella and her partner Ryan have taken to TikTok and Instagram, creating content that mixes entertainment with important messages. “We’ve made a few videos where people commented with questions about my skin, and I think that’s great. It helps to educate people about vitiligo and raise awareness.”

Powerful reflections 

Looking back, Onella has learnt that the key to happiness lies in acceptance — of yourself and of others. “If I could, I’d tell my younger self not to hate myself as much,” she shares. “I didn’t realise how much I was holding myself back by worrying about how I looked. Now, I’ve learnt that the best way to live is to just enjoy life and not worry about the small stuff.

“We should celebrate our differences. If we embrace who we are, we can help others do the same.”

Looking ahead, Onella wants to continue using her voice to influence the industry. “I want to keep advocating for skin diversity, body positivity, and mental wellness. It’s all part of embracing who we are, and I want to show people that it’s okay to be different,” she says.

To follow Onella’s incredible journey, head to her Instagram, Tiktok or Youtube pages.