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In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with content creator and model Onella to peel back the layers on what it really looks like to live and work in the digital spotlight. A client of Metaphysical Wellness for several months, Onella shares her evolution from winning a national modelling search to navigating the pressures of being a curve model and living with Vitiligo. This conversation moves beyond the "perfect exterior" to discuss the mental load of social media, the nuances of PCOS, and the courage it takes to work on your health while the world is watching.
Onella opens up about the "chaotic" reality of her career - from crying in hotel rooms during glamorous brand trips to the discipline required to treat her personal life as a business. Together, Lily and Onella challenge the stigma surrounding weight loss in the body-positive community, advocating for a "baseline" of health that prioritises internal markers over external opinions.
In this episode, Lily and Onella explore:
*The shift from modelling to content creation – How PCOS and insulin resistance changed Onella’s body size and why many brands dropped off when she moved from a size 16 to a 20/22.
*Living with Vitiligo – Onella’s journey as an ambassador for the Vitiligo Association of Australia and her experience growing up confident despite having a "different" look.
*The myth of the "perfect" influencer life – The reality of travel anxiety, emotional burnout, and why long-form YouTube content feels more authentic than 7-second reels.
*Health as a trend vs. health as a baseline – Navigating the overwhelming amount of health advice on TikTok and learning to separate "trends" from actual body physiology.
*Weight loss and Body Positivity – Why wanting to improve your health or change your body composition doesn’t mean you hate yourself, and how to handle online scrutiny during a transformation.
*The "Chaotic Brain" and systems – How to build routines that allow you to function when your natural state is high-energy and non-linear.
*Sustainable balance – Learning that balance isn't a 50/50 split, but rather having the capacity to enjoy life (and chocolate) without it derailing your long-term goals.
This episode is an honest, refreshing look at the intersection of public image and private health, reminding us that being "visible and valued" starts with how we treat ourselves beneath the surface
