Stella is 23 and originally from New Zealand. Her journey has been marked by challenges from a young age, growing up without knowing her father, experiencing bullying, and struggling with an eating disorder since childhood. Social media reinforced her battles, normalising self-harm and feeding destructive patterns at a time when she felt she had no one to talk to.
Through her teens, Stella faced severe depression, hospitalisations, and multiple suicide attempts. At 20, she made the courageous move to Australia for a fresh start, but loneliness and old struggles resurfaced. What began to shift things was connection, finding friends with shared, healthy interests and discovering strength through boxing and fitness.
Today, Stella uses boxing not as an outlet for anger, but as a way to ground herself, stay present, and care for her mental health. She is passionate about encouraging others to find safe outlets, to learn how to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, and to hold onto the truth that things can and do get better.
If this story has raised concerns for you or someone you know, and you need support for eating disorders or body image issues, contact the Butterfly Foundation for free and confidential support.