Strength in Grace: Julia Eckhardt
“Don’t let other people’s opinions shape who you are. Walk your own path. Don’t waste energy impressing those who act from the wrong intentions – or because of their own demons”
Text: VIONNE Magazine | Photos (1 & 2): DF Photography Paris by Dylan Francisku | Photos (3 & 4): Kevin Blasl
Model: Julia Catarina Eckhardt
There are stories that shimmer on the surface — and then there are stories like Julia Catarina Eckhardt’s: quiet in their beginning, but roaring with meaning the deeper you go.
Long before her appearance at Vienna Fashion Week 2024, where she confidently walked the runway wearing Perpetuum by Marina Fashiondesign, Julia’s life was shaped by a different kind of spotlight — one cast by adversity, not applause.
As a child, Julia knew how it felt to be different. She was bullied, excluded, and forced to grow up with more pain than most people see in a lifetime. “Self-doubt and insecurity shaped much of my journey,” she tells us — but through it all, she remained quietly resilient, even when the world around her was loud with cruelty.
Everything changed when she turned 18. What started as a spontaneous opportunity turned into a calling — modeling became her form of therapy, her space for self-discovery. “The moment I stepped in front of the camera, everything else faded away,” Julia reflects. With each editorial and photo shoot, she reclaimed parts of herself that had long been buried beneath self-doubt.
But Julia is far more than a model. She’s a mother, a wife, and a woman fiercely dedicated to living with purpose. Whether she’s balancing work and family or inspiring others through her story, Julia moves with one mission: to uplift.
“Growing and reflecting is powerful — but doubting yourself to the point of shrinking? That’s not.”
At Vienna Fashion Week 2024, she fulfilled a promise she made to herself years ago — to walk a major show before turning 30. With her daughter and husband watching from the front row, she stepped onto the runway in Perpetuum — a moment of triumph, rebirth, and undeniable strength.
We asked Julia five questions about her journey — from her earliest battles to her most defining moments.
VIONNE: Julia, your story begins in a place many people can relate to — with bullying and exclusion.
How did you carry those early experiences into adulthood, and what helped you begin to heal?
Julia: Self-doubt and insecurity shaped much of my journey. Even today, I reflect a lot of my past and ask what I’ve could done better— but now, reflection has become a strength. Healing isn’t a destination, it’s an ongoing process. I’ve learned to only allow people into my life who uplift and support me. That makes all the difference.
VIONNE: Modeling became a turning point in your life. Can you tell us what stepping in front of the camera for the first time felt like — and how it changed your relationship with yourself?
J: I used to be terribly nervous and unhappy with myself. But the moment I stepped in front of the camera, everything else faded away — no time for doubt, only focus. And when the photos turned out amazing - thanks to some brilliant photographers - my confidence grew with each shoot. I was able to open up to people and learn my selfworth. Not even because of my appearance but of my inner values.
VIONNE: You’re a mother, a wife, and someone with a clear purpose beyond fashion. How do you balance those roles, and what are you most proud of today?
J: I won’t sugarcoat it — balancing everything is hard. My work demands a lot emotionally and mentally. By the end of the day or week, my energy is often drained. That’s why I protect my downtime fiercely. Nothing recharges me more than time with my husband and daughter – traveling the world together and spend time with various hobbies. And iced Coffee!
VIONNE: Empowerment seems to be a big part of your mission. What would you say to women and girls who are going through what you once did?
J: Beauty is always subjective; a good character not — you won’t be everyone’s cup of tea if it comes to your apperance. And bullying often says more about the other person than it does about you. What truly matters is knowing your own worth and finding someone you trust to lean on and speak up for you. After some time, you will have the strength to stand up for yourself and go your own way.
VIONNE: What would you tell your younger self, the girl who didn’t yet know how strong she’d become?
J: Don’t let other people’s opinions shape who you are. Walk your own path. Don’t waste energy impressing those who act from the wrong intentions – or because of their own demons. Growing and reflecting is powerful — but doubting yourself to the point of shrinking? That’s not. In 2025 its time to live in an girl’s girl world – so lets uplift and support each other before holding other ones down for the own profit.
Julia Catarina’s story is a reminder that beauty doesn’t begin with appearance — it begins with healing. Her journey from pain to power is one we’ll remember for a long time.
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