South Australia’s top trailblazing plus-size influencers
These South Australian plus-size influencers are changing the fashion status-quo and asking for body diversity. Is your favourite on the list?
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In an industry well known for exclusive sizing, these South Australian plus-size models and influencers are changing the status quo in the fashion world by advocating body diversity.
With bold messages and even bolder fashion choices, each are outspoken on their views that every(body) is unique – and should be celebrated.
Here’s our top plus-size social media stars from across the state, who are using their influence for the greater good.
ALEXIA FRANGOS (She/Her)
Handle: @alexia.eleni
Followers: 7.4K
Director, copywriter, podcast host, writer, vegan-food blogger and fashion model – Alexia Frangos is bossing the body positive movement on Instagram and in real life.
She wants fashion pioneers to embrace diverse bodies by including everybody in fashion campaigns, which will have a positive ripple effect on fashion houses, societal standards and clothing stores.
“Women are made to feel like they need to change their bodies based on evolving (yet regressive) beauty standards” the 27-year-old said.
“I’m also not a ‘fashion-resting-B-face’ kind of model, I can’t help but smile in photos, have fun, and show personality.”
Inspired by US plus-size model pioneer Ashley Graham, Alexia hopes her self-loving and body-embracing mentality will transcend to her followers, and breakdown the misconception that health and body positivity are mutually exclusive.
“I am the fittest I’ve ever been. I play soccer, go to the gym and swim, but still get comments about being ‘unfit’.
“People assume your health and fitness is based on body size. I want people to realise that thin does not equal fitness, and fat does not equal unfit,” she said.
AISHA NIKORA (She/her)
Handle: @itsaishanikora
Followers: 26.4k
Digital content creator, Aisha Nikora grew her following by showcasing trendy minimalistic street fashion – after noticing the lack of size and colour diversity within Australia.
“I really wanted to be that person for younger versions of myself who felt like they never quite fit into a box” she said.
Signed to The Models and Wink agency, Aisha now partners with other brands and plus-size models to dismantle societal beauty standards and pave a new path for curvy women.
“The average size of Australian women is size 14 to 16, yet there’s a lot of Australian fashion labels that only go up to a size 14,” she said.
From bikinis, athleisure, event dresses to chic lifestyle pieces – Aisha’s style knows no limits and she hopes other fashion brands will follow.
“We’re missing out on a large demographic of women who want to shop locally and sustainably. Brands should be expanding their sizing and furthering inclusivity” she said.
CHLOE FERRARI (She/Her)
Handle: @chloefferrari
Followers: 273K
Instagram and Tik Tok wellness influencer Chloe Ferrari is all about body positivity for plus-size women while also raising awareness for neurological disorder ADHD.
Often featuring her adorable three-year-old son, Chloe is outspoken when it comes to mums embracing their post-baby body.
“What we all have in common as mothers is having your body change so drastically. You’re not alone. You’ve got this. Take it one day at a time”, she wrote on a recent Instagram post.
Chloe has also gained a loyal following for the realistic portrayal of her own mental health challenges, while navigating life as single mum.
On a recent post, she cried as she talked about the difficulties of getting professional help, saying: “Who has $250 to spend on every appointment? I’m so grateful for the mental health system here in Australia but I need help and I’m a single parent who can’t afford that.”
LAUREN BRIANNA (She/Her)
Handle: @_laurenbrianna
Followers: 43.9K
Displaying the perfect contrast of soft-goth, alluring and grungy clothes, ‘Fashion Nova Curve’ and Young MGMT model Lauren Brianna, 29, isn’t afraid to experiment with her styles – or hair.
“Constantly switching through bright colours has a huge influence on what I wear for that month, and the vibe of my page” She said.
Frustrated by the lack of size and style representation in tradition media to match her desired aesthetics, Lauren started posting fashion content as a social experiment to see if she’d encounter many challenges compared to her sister – who’s a fashion content creator for straight sizes.
“I just want to wear the same thing as everyone else. It feels like we’re being told to cover up our bodies aren’t worthy of the in styles, that we should just stick to floral tents. No thank you” She said.
As trailblazing fashionista, Lauren says she want to show her followers “people that you can wear whatever you want, no matter your size. If it makes you feel good, that’s all that matters. You can make any outfit look incredible if you wear it with confidence.” She said
KAYLA THOMAS (She/Her)
Handle: @cleopatrashbag
Followers: 53.5K
Influencer Kayla Thomas, 24, started posting her punk and “witchy” outfits after she struggled to find clothes that fit her size and unique style. This led her to “create the inspiration for myself and others,” she said.
“I have a very ‘comfort first’ approach to fashion. As a certified tummy-issues girly, if something is too tight to sit in or digs, I simply won’t wear it” Ms Thomas said.
Kayla hopes her unique style will eventually slip into mainstream fashion, so popular brands can include plus-size friendly versions of currents trends.
“The idea that clothes have to be ‘flattering’ for our bodies when that is simply not true. Fashion doesn’t need to be ‘attractive’ to the wider community, it just needs to make you feel good” Ms Thomas said
“Fashion is wearable art, and art is for everyone. No one should be letting their size, shape, age, environment dictate their style. We as an industry need to be more inclusive, NOW!” she said.
LUCY RYAN (She/Her)
Handle: @thatgirl_lucyryan
Followers: 25.3K
Beauty, fashion and mental health advocate Lucy Ryan is a digital content creator and model signed to Bella Management.
Sporting a range of checkered printed outfits, the 30-year-old Adelaide native has garnered a loyal following with her confident messaging, quirky fashion “hauls”, trendy lingerie sets and “outfit of the day” content.
Her vinyl, live music and playlist reviews gives her a unique edge, with her recently posting a shot for Australia music T-shirt day, writing: “My pick this year is @slywithers because I cannot stop playing their latest album Overgrown over and over and I just love them so much.”
LISA REINER (She/Her)
Handle: @curvatureclothing
Followers: 24K
Colour, Casual and Confident, influencer Lisa Reiner stumbled into plus-size modelling after creating her own start-up business for size-inclusive fashion.
“I got so frustrated with the lack of options above a size 16, I decided to do something about it to make that change.” the 41-year-old said.
The queen of colour and bright prints hopes her fashion label Curvature, that’s showcasing a range of unique bright prints for sizes 6 to 30, will bring a fresh ethical perspective to the fashion world.
“It is easy to be inclusive of all bodies regardless of their size and entirely possible to create fashion that is ethically manufactured here in Australia without the exploitation of offshore garment workers,” she explained.
SAMANTHA MASCHIO (She/Her)
Handle: @samanthamaschio
Followers: 1.3K
Plus-size influencer Samantha Maschio found her creative expression through fashion and now showcases her feminine, sophisticated and playful outfits online.
“I am someone who likes to express myself with fashion, so my style changes depending on my mood and what’s currently happening in my life” she said.
With a degree in fashion design, becoming a stylist gave Samantha, 27, a better understanding of how clothes for plus-size women differ.
“I understand the fundamentals of the pieces that I am modelling or styling, like the fabric and how it moves, the ideal textural elements, ideal shapes and colours.,” she told.
She says more South Australian fashion retailers should widen the size ranges, with Sportsgirl stocking up to size 18 and Target, now up to 24, already following other international brand sizing.
“My body type is not your classic or typical plus-size model, so I would love to see some more well-known Australian brands and designers start to offer options for us” she said.
DANA WILLISON (She/Her)
Handle: @permanent_weekend
Followers: 3.8K
Showcasing warm colour tones and bohemian aesthetics, this digital creator and photographer is the go-to for trendy plus-size fashion.
After seeing a gap in the Adelaide fashion market for women of her size, Dana Willison started sharing her outfits to inspire women to become more carefree and confident.
“I always completely myself and stay true to who I am, and people seem to really love that,” the 35-year-old said.
Optimistic the fashion industry will eventually include women of all sizes, Dana says she wants “everyone to feel confident with their style and feel like they won’t be judged for who they are/what they look like.”
HANNAH YATES (She/Her)
Handle: @hannahbackwardsishannah_
Followers: 2.2K
After growing her self-confidence and stepping in front of the camera, Hannah Yates started capturing her bohemian floral-print dresses, and centred her profile on personal growth and mental health advocacy.
“I’d love to encourage a movement towards readily available, sustainable, stylish size inclusive clothing and to encourage others to wear what they love and feel good in,” the 32-year-old explained.
Inspired by the Australia’s much-loved curve fashion models, Bruna Lapinskas and Riley Hemson, Hannah hopes her outfits will inspire people to create independent fashion labels for plus-size women.
“Plus size peeps want the same fashionable clothes as what’s available in the straight size section, just bigger,” she said.
MONTANA BILLING (She/Her)
Handle: @montana.jadexo
Followers: 4.1K
All things pink, Montana Billing wants to be the most relatable fashion icon for curvy women in Adelaide.
Since she was young, Jade struggled to find stores with affordable and flattering fashion, and explained that plus-size women are “forever having to pre-plan outfits long in advance so that it arrives in time,” the 25-year-old explained.
Now, the body positive and food blogger found a passion for sharing her best clothing hauls to help other women feel good, referencing looks from globally-adored plus-size influencers, like @xodearjune and @Honey_those_hips who have over 177 thousand followers.
“I love showing off the stores I shop from, so plus size babes have stores to go to and try things on” she said.
TELL US: Let us know in the comments below if we’ve missed a body positivity influencer in South Australia who deserves a shout-out.
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