Since appearing on The Biggest Loser you’ve had quite the journey with your weight loss, how are you feeling about your body and health at the moment?
The past twelve years since The Biggest Loser has definitely been a crazy journey, however I am proud to say that I am currently in a really good place with my body and fitness. Over the last six months, in particular, I have kicked many of my fitness goals; I did 75km mountain trek up to Machu Picchu, I participated in the Sydney Harbour 10km fun run and I have just started triathlon training.
I discovered that by solely focusing on myself and my own fitness I have been able to achieve things I never thought I would be able to, and not comparing myself to others. Today I look at my body as my best friend, and every day I work towards keeping it strong, happy and healthy.
What does your day on a plate look like?
Day to day my diet varies, mainly depending on my schedule and training. I think it’s really important to always drink lots of water as I find it is the best way to help my skin stay clear, fresh and healthy. I’m not a massive fan of red meat but I love seafood and chicken.
My average day would consist of:
Breakfast – green smoothie or two poached eggs with spinach, mushrooms and smoked salmon.
Morning tea – 2 falafels with hummus, or a piece of fruit with a handful of nuts or a tub of yoghurt.
Lunch – a wrap with chicken/tuna or ham with lots of salad.
Afternoon tea – a green juice or a small plate of roasted veggies.
Dinner – fish or chicken with lots and lots of veg, particularly greens – they’re my favourite!
Something sweet – hot chocolate or 80% dark chocolate always kick my sweet cravings.
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What’s your workout of choice?
This is such a hard question to answer because my training is always changing. I go through phases with my training where I practice something for about 6 months and then change it up again. Whilst filming The Biggest Loser: Transformed, I was doing HIIT group classes, then I moved to training with a strength coach lifting heavy weights. After, I started running training for the 10km fun run, then moving to outdoor boot camps. Most recently I have started triathlon training again with my partner, which is so much fun! I also play netball, swim, and practice yoga every week.
Regardless of the type of training, I definitely enjoy group training and training with a partner the most as it’s the best way for me to stay motivated and it becomes that much more fun!
What your least favourite way to exercise?
Running on a treadmill is the hardest for me - it’s a mental game trying to distract my mind from wanting to stop and I find it becomes boring quickly!
Your work as a model requires you to travel a lot, how do you make healthy choices when you are on the go?
I find it really important to be organised, I always travel with a bag full of healthy snacks. Mid-afternoon on set is when the sugary snacks usually come out, however, I try to avoid these because of the sugar rush (and subsequent crash!) that ensues.
I am very conscious about what foods I put in my body, I always look for nutrient dense foods and load up on these as they keep me fuller longer and my energy levels up.
You’ve been really outspoken about body positivity and body diversity. Do you get much backlash on line about this?
Body positivity is really important to me, as I know from personal experience of hating yourself and the detrimental effects these thoughts have on your mental state as these often can have a roll-on effect on your health and fitness. I feel fortunate to say that I have not really had much backlash, and in actual fact I feel there is a lot of love and support and gratitude.
There is a strong community of women in Australia who are searching for role models to help them become confident in their bodies. I hope my social media post can inspire woman to feel happy and confident in their skin.
How do you deal with the trolls?
In terms of trolls I just ignore them, if they write something offensive I just remove it and move on, there is no point letting that get to you.
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What do you do in our down time to take the pressure off?
Travel! Travelling is my favourite way to escape from work and exploring new places is my favourite way to relax and unwind.
What inspired you to start your own line of activewear?
Since competing on The Biggest Loser, I’ve always struggled with finding the perfect activewear for my size. I have been a size 12 and 20, and every size in between and have realised there is was a gap in the market for good quality and well-fitting activewear. I designed my range so that it could be work for training of all types. I’m so proud of collaborating with Autograph to create this range, and that I have designed pieces that fit well, look good and make me feel great.
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Can you tell us a little about the collection?
I wanted to create a collection that was comfortable and fashion-forward, but most importantly made women feel fantastic! I tried to incorporate all of the elements that I feel make great activewear, and took inspiration from the styles that I have tried over the years.
The range features singlets with ruched sides which hide any lumps and bumps, handy zip pockets in the leggings for keys and cash, and mesh panels in the crops and leggings to give extra breathability. The colour palette consists of grey, black, white and coral which are all my favourite colours, with a leopard print feature which I love!
Affordability for the range was an important aspect that was taken into consideration. I know from personal experience how you can burn through activewear when you are training often, and just how expensive that can be! All pieces in the range are $49.95 or under.
The favourite part about this range is that it can be worn to the gym when working out, but is also nice enough to be worn casually!
Why did you choose to collaborate with Autograph?
Autograph was actually one of my very first clients when I started out as a model! I modelled for Autograph for about three years before moving overseas and they were amazing to work for, so it was a no-brainer to collaborate with them!
Why do you think body diversity is so important in fashion?
I think it is important to have body diversity in fashion to disprove the common belief that there is one ideal body type and shape, there is no such thing as the ‘norm’. Every single body is different and I think it’s incredibly important we stop comparing ourselves to one another as no one looks like the models in the magazines! Autograph have a ‘no retouching’ policy across all of their campaigns, which really resonates strongly with me.
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