Sister of the Sea: Carla’s Journey to Freedom and Connection

 

From the Shores of France to the Waves of Lombok

Carla’s story begins in the South of France, where she was born and raised by the Mediterranean Sea. Despite growing up near the water, she never considered herself an ocean girl. The idea of island life felt like a distant dream, one of those fantasies you tell yourself, “Maybe in another life.” But life had other plans. Two years ago, she moved to Lombok, and in its raw beauty, she found something she didn’t even know she was searching for, freedom.

Here, Carla felt the space to create without limits, to let her soul shine without shrinking herself. What began as a search for reconnection quickly became a life she couldn’t imagine leaving behind.

A Silent Conversation with the Ocean

For Carla, the ocean is more than just water, it is a mirror, reflecting her inner world. It speaks to her in a language beyond words, revealing her fears, her strengths, her chaos, and her calm. Through surfing, she has come to understand herself in a way she never had before.

The Turning Point: Listening to the Whispers of Change

Carla’s journey was not defined by a single moment but by a series of small yet powerful signs. Burnout, and anxiety had left her feeling suffocated in a life that no longer felt like her own. The fear of disappointing others and the uncertainty of change held her back, until she started listening to the quiet voice inside her.

It wasn’t a sudden realisation but a gradual unfolding, sparked by conversations with strangers, words from a neighbour, books she read, and voices she heard in podcasts. Over three years, she built a life that felt truly hers, one where she could breathe, create, and belong.

Three Things That Bring the Most Joy

Family – Even with an ocean between them, Carla feels their unconditional love and support, reminding her that no matter where she goes, she is never alone.

Community – In Lombok, she found more than a place; she found her people, a chosen family, a sisterhood of the sea.

Surfing – There is no feeling quite like sitting on a surfboard, watching the horizon, and feeling the ocean breathe beneath her. It’s freedom in its purest form.

Finding Elation: A Connection Meant to Be

Carla’s journey with Elation began serendipitously. A chance photoshoot in Lombok led her to the brand, and she firmly believes that people and opportunities cross our paths for a reason.

Elation as a Part of Her Journey

As someone who spends most of her time in the ocean, Carla understands the struggle of feeling confident in swimwear. Surfing is her greatest love, but seeing herself in photos or videos hasn’t always been easy. Learning to speak to herself with kindness and view her body as a friend, rather than an enemy, has been a transformative journey.

Elation became part of that journey, its fit, fabric, and feel offering her a sense of security and freedom in the water. More than just swimwear, Elation represents a feeling: of belonging, of self-love, of being at home in her own skin.

Elation’s Values That Resonate the Most

Freedom – To live, to move, to express.

Connection – To herself, to the ocean, to a greater community.

Confidence – In the water, in her skin, in her journey.

Her Go-To Elation Salty Suit

Always the blue one (coming soon)—the colour of the ocean, of her heart, of endless horizons, of boundless love.

Words of Wisdom for the Elation Community

“There is no perfect timing, no perfect version of yourself you need to become before you are worthy of living the life you dream of. You don’t have to be fearless to take the leap, you just have to be willing to jump. Messy, scared, unsure. Because the most beautiful things in life, just like in the ocean, happen when you stop resisting and start moving with the waves.”

Carla Rosenthal