Ellie Gonsalves unfiltered, uncensored, and unapologetic.

IN HER OWN WORDS

Ellie Gonsalves

By FIONA WILLIAMS

ELLIE WEARS OGLIA-LORO COUTURE STYLED BY PAUL VERSACE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CORRINA LOUISE

Loyal, lovable, and lavish. These are just a few words to describe the incandescent and enigmatic Ellie Gonsalves. Guiding her way through a rocky industry full of rejection growing up, this wildlife warrior (more on that later) took her future into her own hands, with the help of her fiancé, and has shown us that no matter what life throws at you, love and hard work always wins.

Hi Ellie, thanks for chatting to us for our Love Issue! Where are you and what are you doing right now? Hi! I’m currently sitting in the car driving up to Noosa for a long weekend away.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence for those that don’t know you? A loyal and hard-working person.

When and where did your career start? I dipped my toe into the modelling and acting world at about 14 years old, participating in a lot of photographic work, performances, and acting classes during school. It wasn’t until I left high school that I realised I could turn it into a career and take it seriously. At that point, I had grown out of my child modelling agency and was turned down by every other agency I went to for either being too much or too little of something. This was all before social media was a thing, so I decided to carve out a career that wasn’t exactly done the conventional way. I took advantage of Facebook pages to build an audience that enjoyed following my career and what I did day to day from what I ate, how I trained to keep in shape, my goals, and the progress I was making on that journey. The other platforms we use more today such as Instagram and Twitter were only just starting. I built this into a very solid following over time and leveraged it as another reason for brands to book me because I had something a lot of other models didn’t at the time – my own platform and influence. With the help from my partner Ross, over time I learnt as much as I possibly could from him as I wasn’t particularly knowledgeable on how to run myself as a business at 18 years old. I learnt how to book a lot of my dream jobs by being proactive and personally reaching out. I also learnt how to turn ‘Ellie’ into not only a brand but an enterprise. I didn’t wait for someone to do it for me – I made said. When the seminar was over, he said if anyone wanted to speak with him about their plans when they left school or needed any advice to come down and talk to him. So, what did I do? I went and spoke to him. I realised as I was walking up to him, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left school, so I panicked and said I wanted to own my own fashion business. I got an email from him a week or so later with a lot of thoughtful and detailed information, but I never responded because I started dating someone. Two years later I saw him again while we were out with friends. A few months went by, and I fell completely in love. Our first date was on Valentine’s Day. The rest they say is history.

it happen for myself putting in the work to get where I wanted to be.

What does love mean to you? I think love is a connection – understanding the other person and accepting them for who they truly are while elevating them to be the best person that they desire to be. It’s not just buying flowers or jewellery because while those things are nice, it never makes a relationship if those other things are missing. Love is not about buying or taking, it’s about giving. (If you’re reading this Ross, I will still accept any gifts you want to give me lol). Where did you meet your fiancé, Ross? Ha-ha, it’s still so funny calling him my ‘fiancé’. This is a bit of a long story and I’m all about sharing the movie length, not the short trailer version so buckle in! While we lived down the road from each other and went to the same school our entire lives we only met when he did a seminar for my year 10 business class on entrepreneurship. I was 15 and he was 20. He had become very successful in business since leaving school in year 11 (2003) and my teacher saw his story in the newspaper and invited him back to do a seminar (for the class he failed in school). As soon as he walked in all I could think about was how good looking he was, and I didn’t really listen to a thing he

What’s the craziest thing you two have I was turned down done together? We’ve lived and worked together for by every other almost 13 years, where do I even start?! agency I went to I’d say moving to America so young and persuing our careers is up there as crazy. for either being You recently got engaged while you TOO MUCH or too were feeding a huge crocodile (crikey!) little of something.” can you tell us what exactly happened? I went to Australia Zoo to feed Graham the Croc – this was to celebrate being on Big Brother VIP to win $100,000 for my charity Wildlife Warriors (founded by Steve and Terri Irwin). Turns out Ross and the Irwins had other plans – plans that I later found out were in the making for a couple of years. We were standing in the Crocosseum as Terri, Robert, and Chandler said, “let’s bring out Graham!” The croc was on the screen and it glitched and appeared to malfunction. I was standing there thinking, “FFS. Of course the one day I come here to feed a croc something goes wrong!” Then I heard ‘Love Story’ by Taylor Swift playing over the speakers (our song when we first got together). I turned around and Ross was walking out of a cloud of smoke in a completely different outfit to what I saw him in 10 minutes before, and now with a box in his hands. It took me 20 seconds to process what was going on because I was full of adrenaline ready to feed a prehistoric creature with a confirmed bite force of 3,700 pounds per square inch ha-ha! I started crying, I think Ross was already crying as he was walking out, he then got on one knee and said, “Will you marry me?” and of course, I said yes.

Tell us a little about the ring… Did you design it? Ross and I have been together for 13 years and we have a whole album full of inspiration for a wedding. But I had been working very closely with Calleija Jewellers since late October 2021 as they were dressing me for all of my events, shoots, and appearances. They asked us if we were considering ever getting married and wanted to help us design our engagement ring later in 2022 when we were ready. Little did I know that around these conversations, Ross had secretly let them in on the plans he had to propose at the croc feed! So before this, they asked me the shape I liked and what I might like to include, which is an R for Ross, D for my daddy and C for Calleija so it was symbolic of the past, present, and future. celebrate us, but I always trusted that Ross would know when that time was, and it was the most amazingly special day.

How has the past year changed your perspective on love? The last year has reiterated that everything I have deemed a success or achievement in my life is reflective of the effort I put into it.

You’re a huge advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community since coming out as bisexual five years ago, how did it feel to do this publicly? This was such a huge weight off my shoulders. After my dad died, it put a lot into perspective for me, things that used to matter to me or concerned me before just paled in comparison after going through that loss. It took me a long time to come to terms with having different preferences to a lot of women During Big Brother VIP earlier this year, you around me growing up, and it’s not like there were asked by your housemates why you were a huge number of bisexual women to and Ross weren’t married/engaged at the look up to either, but I did always look up to time – your answer was incredibly moving. Angelina Jolie. She paved the way for women Could you explain what you said? owning not only their sexuality, but genuinely I think it wasn’t something most of the not making it out like it’s that big of a deal to people on the show could really just be yourself – I found it really inspiring. understand as it’s been almost 13 years of So, when I came out it was an empowering us being together and moment – even if it made some that does seem strange to some that we were not married or even engaged I was standing there thinking, “FFS. OF people uncomfortable. While so much was positive, with social media there was always at that point. But Ross and I both lost our dads within three years of each other, COURSE, the one day I come here to feed a croc going to be a few people who were bent on telling me I was going to hell and some I also lost someone who was like a mother to me, and we’ve also had a hard something goes wrong!” Then I heard ‘Love Story’ by even said I did it for attention, which was to be expected. But it really didn’t bother me. I time with family in that Taylor Swift start playing…” learnt to understand and accept time. We also massively that it didn’t matter what an prioritised our careers uneducated person’s opinion early on and moved to another country for was of me because I finally felt free and most about five years. While processing all of that importantly, myself. over the last few years we always knew it How are the wedding plans going? was going to be a really hard day not having Among juggling the launch of our Crypto our dads there. Especially for me, every girl Girl NFTs, our activewear company 9186, wants her daddy to walk her down the aisle campaigns, and possibly another movie this and that was, and is, something that still year, they’re moving along! But it hasn’t been makes me feel sad I’ll never be able to do a massive focus over the last two months. I am because I loved my dad more than anything. a very decisive bride though, I know exactly So for us, the time hadn’t felt right to just what I want and while I’m not traditional, you can expect something that is going to be very special, intimate, and celebrates us as a couple.

During your time on Big Brother VIP, Caitlyn Jenner offered to walk you down the aisle on your wedding day. Can we still expect her to be there on the day? I have a really nice relationship with Cait, we had so much fun on the show! When she asked me, I was honestly just really at a loss for words and you didn’t see it on the show, but I got pretty emotional because that really meant a lot to me since my dad passed. Ross’s dad also passed and my family is non-existent so I always saw myself walking down the aisle alone. She’s a very genuine and sincere person and I love that. We speak often and she’s excited to be a part of our day… whenever and wherever that may be…

When CAITLYN JENNER asked if she could walk me down the aisle, I was at a loss for words. It meant a lot to me since my dad passed.”

ELLIE WEARS ISABELLE QUINN STYLED BY PAUL VERSACE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CORRINA LOUISE

QUICK FIVE

Happiest memory?

The day we got engaged. Favourite age so far?

30. One thing you couldn’t live without?

Ross and Daisy (sorry they’re a package deal). Wardrobe MVP?

My stylist, Paul Versace! Your beauty essential?

SPF. Ya girl out here with goals to look as good as Christie Brinkley at 60!

COOL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Yellowtail Wines Super Bowl commercial

Hollywood blockbuster film ‘Fighting with My Family’ with Dwayne Johnson

Shooting for GUESS campaigns

Good American Campaign with Khloe Kardashian

Ambassador for L’Oréal Professional Australia

Launching my own athleisure label, 9186 Collective

Being a co-founder of the first superheroine project ‘Crypto Girl’ in the NFT space

MINIMAL MOMENT

It’s a whole new world and designers have reclaimed the runway as sensual sophistication makes a rightful comeback. More skin, you say? In France, the impossibly-chic Jacquemus continues to bare all, while closer to home, Dion Lee toes the line between sexy and demure with ease. Strip back, unleash the drama, and hold on to summer for dear life.

FASHION

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Off-kilter clashes in tonal hues and trendy chocolate brown give back-to-work blues a warm weather shake up this season. Elevate your 9-5 with investment pieces in deliciously earthy tones pared back with holiday-approved flats (heels, we’re not ready for you yet). Add a puff-piece, slick that hair back, experiment with bold shades and activate work-mode at your own risk.

By TRACY SINCLAIR

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1. Moda Operandi Victoria Beckham Sleeveless Cashmere Top $1,090 2. Moda Operandi Victoria Beckham Twill

Straight-Leg Pant $935 3. Moda Operandi Cult Gaia Adele Earring $135 4. Camilla and Marc Twister Sandal $500 5. Loewe Oversized Square-Frame Acetate Sunglasses $445 6. Camilla and Marc Puffer Bag $750 7. Paris

Georgia Christophe Draped Satin Off-The-Shoulder Top $610 8. Paris Georgia Darcy Pleated Crepe Straight-Leg

Trouser $745 9. Loewe Ballet Runner Sneaker $765 10. Reco Rombo Patchwork Leather Shoulder Bag $1,367 *Some prices have been converted to AUD and are subject to change.