About
Born on September 3, 1988, in sunny Oahu, Hawaii, Lexi Placourakis is a 5ʹ 11ʺ plus‑size model, social‑entrepreneur, and body‑confidence advocate who now bases herself in Scottsdale, Arizona. She’s represented by The Campbell Agency and previously by Ford/Robert Black, and her résumé includes campaigns for JCPenney, Hips & Curves, Sorella Swim, and Neiman Marcus. With more than 70,000 Instagram followers, she uses her feed to prove that style and self‑love belong to everybody.
Lexi’s professional goal goes beyond booking jobs; she focuses on helping women feel “comfortable and confident with their entire presence,” a mission that has turned her into a sought‑after speaker and a relatable internet big‑sister. Fans flock to her candid swimsuit posts, unretouched photos, and pep‑talk captions, finding a role model who lives the message she preaches.
Before Fame
Before industry contracts, though, Lexi practiced in the digital sandbox of Tumblr, posting self‑styled images that gained organic attention and honed her on‑camera confidence. Those early experiences, plus the bullying she endured in high school for being “different,” fueled the empathy that anchors her platform today. Before industry contracts, though, Lexi practiced in the digital sandbox of Tumblr, posting self‑styled images that gained organic attention and honed her on‑camera confidence. Those early experiences, plus the bullying she endured in high school for being “different,” fueled the empathy that anchors her platform today.
Trivia
- Height: 5ʹ 11ʺ (180 cm) and proud of every inch.
- Began as a Tumblr hobbyist before the Instagram era took off.
- Signed her first major contract with Ford/Robert Black and later joined The Campbell Agency, a path that helped her navigate both print and runway work when curve modeling was still niche.
- Maintains a daily walking habit to remain healthy after shedding sixty pounds and overcoming a family history of diabetes—part of why wellness, not size tags, is number one on her agenda.
- Her Instagram name @lexieleni is a tip of the hat to her middle name, Eleni, in homage to her Greek heritage.
Family Life
Lexi is the oldest of Tina Machado’s daughters, a now-CEO who once was a Miss Hawaii USA titleholder, whose bold spirit clearly transferred to her offspring. She shares her life with son Jaxson (born 2012) and frequently writes tearful birthday letters noting his achievements. Though her relationship with NFL star Tyron Smith ended romantically, the pair maintains a friendly co‑parenting rhythm that keeps Jaxson at the center. Lexi also credits her siblings and extended Hawaiian‑Greek family for the grounding support that lets her chase a career in an image‑focused industry. Growing up on island time and later in Texas taught her versatility—one day she was surfing, the next cheering under Friday‑night lights—which explains the approachable vibe her followers love.
Associated With
Professional-wise, Lexi gives a nod to body‑curve pioneers Denise Bidot, Robyn Lawley, and Ashley Graham for paving the way, crediting them for opening doors she now ventures through. She’s also been likened to body‑positive contemporaries Olivia Wilson and Tabria Majors for making social media power translate into in‑demand influence. Off‑runway, football fans know her family tie to Tyron Smith of the Dallas Cowboys, a connection that occasionally pops up in sports blogs but remains a footnote to her own achievements. Whether shooting with Sorella Swim, chatting on podcasts, or answering DMs from teenagers struggling with self‑image, Lexi surrounds herself with people and brands that share her “confidence first” mantra—proof that community, not competition, is her favorite accessory.
