It’s hard not to fall in love with Olivia Ponton. Born and raised in Naples, Florida, the 18-year-old captivates audiences around the world with her breathtaking beauty, both inside and out. With her sweet and charming girl-next-door personality, contagious smile, and positive attitude, the model and social media star exudes nothing but love while raising awareness for mental health and issues important to her.
From her athletic days running track and competing in races to now moving across the country to Los Angeles and signing with modeling agency Wilhelmina, Olivia proves the sky’s the limit when it comes to chasing your dreams. Boasting 2.7 million followers on Instagram alone, Olivia shares videos of herself working out, cooking or baking, trying on new outfits, doing makeup looks, and of course, spending time with her friends.
Moving to Los Angeles to join the Hype House, amongst many other poppin’ influencers and TikTokers, she reveals there’s never a dull moment. Most recently, she was featured in the SKIMS campaign and released her own swimsuit line with White Shore Swim. Her new merch has also been a hit among her fans.
Flaunt caught up with Olivia via Instagram Live, where she was in high spirits in Los Angeles. She shared insights into her busy life, from her former years doing track and water skiing to signing with Wilhelmina. Olivia’s journey began in Naples, Florida, where she spent her childhood growing up on the beach.
“Honestly, I didn’t take it for granted because I took advantage of being so close to the beach. I went to the beach three to four times a week after school, before school. Especially on the weekends when I wasn’t having track meets, I’d literally spend the entire day at the beach because it was so close,” she reminisces.
Olivia’s athletic prowess was evident early on. She competed in various track events, including the 100, 200, 400 meters, and the 4 x 1 and 4 x 4 relays, as well as the 300 hurdles. This rigorous schedule meant she had to be up every morning at 5 am for practice, a testament to her dedication and discipline.
It wasn’t until she turned 18 that Olivia made the move to Los Angeles. “It was five days after my 18th birthday. My parents were never against me going to LA, but I couldn’t because I was in track and I had practice literally every single day,” she explains. The transition was seamless, and Olivia found Los Angeles to be very accepting. “Nobody judges you, you wear whatever you want to wear or do. There’s obviously going to be haters but as a whole, LA’s very accepting,” she says.
Her modeling journey took off when she signed with Wilhelmina, a moment she describes as surreal. “I remember signing to Wilhelmina and I 100% cried. It was crazy because I wanted them to be my agency. Even though I was talking to other agencies, it was always ‘I want to sign to Wilhelmina,’” she recalls.
Beyond her modeling career, Olivia is a strong advocate for mental health and anti-cyberbullying. She uses her platform to promote positivity and self-love. “My journey with social media was a rough start. I’d let a lot of stuff get to me, I’d take DMs and comments super seriously. There were days where it was bad, I was crying over these little comments,” she admits. However, she learned to focus on what truly matters—her self-worth and the love of those around her.
To maintain her mental health, Olivia keeps daily affirmations on sticky notes on her mirror. “Reminding you you’re beautiful, you’re loved. There are people out there thinking and caring about you, there are people waiting to see you the next day. You’re needed and you’re loved,” she shares.
Fitness remains a significant part of Olivia’s life. “Of course, we have a gym downstairs. If I don’t use that, I go to the DogPound which is located kinda far. It’s 45 minutes away from my house, I’ve been going there since I came to LA,” she says. Olivia enjoys simple workouts and focuses on her diet, ensuring she eats clean and benefits from what she consumes throughout the day.
Her favorite go-to foods include egg bagels with spinach, mushrooms, onions, and cream cheese, as well as oatmeal packed with protein powder and peanut butter. Olivia also loves charcuterie boards, which she eats daily.
Olivia’s compassion extends to her community and the environment. She partners with World Harvest Food Bank to distribute food boxes to homeless people in Los Angeles. “I noticed how many homeless people there are here and it made me very sad. I’ve worked with World Harvest Food Bank to hand out food boxes to homeless people or people that need it,” she explains.
Her love for the ocean has also led her to work with 4Ocean, an organization dedicated to cleaning up beaches and oceans. “It’s heartbreaking honestly. It’s insane to see trash on the beach, a normalized thing which shouldn’t be,” she says. Olivia hopes to participate in more ocean cleanups once COVID-19 restrictions ease.
As Olivia continues to rise in the modeling industry, she remains grounded and focused on her goals. “I want to see myself on some billboards and work super hard,” she says. With her determination, positive outlook, and genuine care for others, Olivia Ponton is undoubtedly a star on the rise, set to steal even more hearts worldwide.