I attended an Amiri store launch in Johannesburg, and with all the people that filled the room, one woman stood out; tall, elegant, and striking. There’s a quiet elegance that lingers long after you’ve met her, the kind that doesn’t demand attention but naturally draws it. She had an air about her – poised yet warm, greeting everyone with a smile, posing effortlessly for photos. Later, I discovered she was none other than Elana Drago Fabian – model, coach, mother, wife, and entrepreneur.

What I didn’t expect, though, was how grounded and introspective she would be. Elana carries a quiet strength, a woman who has lived many lives across continents and chapters, and yet remains entirely herself.

Elana describes growing up in Brazil as an experience filled with joy, colour and connection – one that shaped her outlook on life and beauty.

“Brazil has one of the warmest cultures you’ll ever experience,” she smiles. “We’re confident, fun, open, honest, kind, and full of garra – that mix of grit, skill, and determination that makes us who we are. We also have no idea what personal space means,” she laughs.

Though deeply Brazilian at heart, Elana admits she’s also a little different from her friends back home.

“Since moving abroad, I’ve come to appreciate quiet and personal space. But I’m still very Brazilian in the way I connect with people. I believe in always moving forward, growing gracefully with age, and loving life.”

Becoming the “Model”

Elana’s modeling journey began, as she puts it, “by accident.”

“The word ‘model’ always freaked me out,” she admits. “I never understood what people saw in me. I was tall, skinny, sporty, a total tomboy. Boys never looked at me, and some girls didn’t want me around because I made them feel short.”

Her life took a turn when a photographer, Walmor de Oliveira, spotted her in a restaurant in her hometown, Florianópolis, when she was just 14.

“He had been watching me for weeks,” she laughs. “I actually told my mom there was an old man stalking me! It turned out he owned the modeling agency next door.”

What convinced her to join wasn’t glamour, but adventure.

“When he said I could travel the world, I was sold. I was a tomboy who didn’t want to wear a bra or stop biting my nails, but suddenly, people started seeing me as beautiful. It changed my life.”

Her first major campaign, for O Boticário – a household name in Brazil, would later cement her place in the industry.

“It was in every magazine and media outlet. I didn’t even realise how big it was at the time.”

Years later, a high-profile campaign for Baileys in London would mark both a turning point and a reckoning.

“It was one of my best-paid jobs, but also the one that broke me. The director was abusive on set, and I decided to leave London and move to South Africa. Funny how something painful can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.”

Evolving with the Industry

Elana has witnessed fashion’s evolution firsthand.

“Back then, it was hard. You’d go to castings with a Discman, paper map, and heels in your backpack. No GPS, no Instagram, no Zoom – just hustle. Our hips had to be under 90cm, and we were measured weekly. It was brutal.”

Today, she says, things are different.

“Modeling has become more inclusive, fair, and diverse. Clients now value authenticity. You can be discovered online, and women of every shape, age and background are represented. That’s real progress.”

For Elana, what sets a model apart has never been just looks.

“It’s how you carry yourself, your professionalism, your energy, your respect for others. Clients always remembered me for that, not just my photos.”

Elana the mentor!

Now a sought-after model coach, Elana pours her experience into guiding the next generation of models.

“I focus on each model’s goals and personality. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Authenticity is everything.”

Her coaching goes beyond posing or walking.

“I teach them about body awareness, self-esteem, and safety, how to handle loneliness, manage money, and stay true to themselves. Modeling is a business, and you are the product. The key is learning to separate the business ‘you’ from the personal ‘you’, that’s how you build longevity.”

Family, Love, and Partnership

When Elana met her husband, entrepreneur Arie Fabian, life began to take a new shape.

“We both slowed down our individual careers to focus on family. We’re very intentional about how we live. The kids need both of us present, so we don’t overcommit.”

Their relationship is built on balance and mutual respect.

“Arie is a visionary and needs freedom to create, while I ground things in reality,” she laughs. “A Taurus and an Aquarius can’t be too close all the time! It’s a dance,  he lifts me up, I bring him down to earth.”

Motherhood, she says, transformed everything.

“There’s no manual for it. You change; body, mind, and soul. I went from traveling the world on my own to thinking about how every choice affects my family. I’m a better version of myself now. Slowing down wasn’t hard, it was natural.”

Her priorities have shifted toward health, balance, and meaning.

“I still model, and I’ve started acting too, but I’m not in a rush. I just want to be healthy, happy, and fully present.”

Building Together

Together, Elana and Arie have built two remarkable ventures: Egg – a collaborative retail incubator, and Yawa – a high-end fashion store bringing international brands like Palm Angels, Amiri, and Casablanca to South Africa.

“Both our families come from retail backgrounds, so it was meant to be,” she says. “Egg started in our living room during the pandemic. I was pregnant and we moved homes twice in a year! It was chaos but also magic.”

Their businesses are driven by purpose, not trends.

“We both love color, comfort, and quality. Our home reflects that. We’re not attached to fashion as status, it’s about self-expression.”

When asked how she defines her personal brand, Elana doesn’t hesitate:

“Modesty, awareness! Honesty, all with a twist of grace and sensuality.”

Her definition of confidence has evolved with time.

“It’s knowing you are enough. Confidence isn’t loud, it’s quiet strength. It’s not about being eye candy but about being kind, grounded, and respectful.”

What keeps her inspired?

“Gratitude, therapy, movement and meditation. I’ve worked hard for what I have, not just materially, but emotionally and spiritually. That’s what keeps me aligned.”

And her message to women everywhere?

“No magazine cover or amount of money is worth your dignity. Speak your truth, even if it costs you comfort. Be of service, lift other women up, and remember, confidence isn’t about being seen. It’s about being whole.”“I hope to leave a legacy of honesty,” Elana says softly. “To have touched lives in ways others didn’t dare to. I want women to know that anything is possible if you believe in yourself. Men’s views don’t define us, our truth does. And when we rise together, we all win.”