GO TO BED With Dominique Elissa

This week we sat down with Dominique Elissa— a content creator, model, podcaster, and founder of Selfdom, a platform dedicated to wellness and self-empowerment. One encounter with Dom and it’s clear a healthy lifestyle isn’t something she just preaches - she lives it. But it’s her knack for community building, and encouraging others to be their best, that is truly inspiring. This GO TO BED chat, we delved into her origin story, the inspiration behind her Gratitude Journal, and got the inside scoop on her perfect sleep routine.

Thanks for being up for some pillow talk, Dom! It’s been such a joy watching your journey evolve over the years. Before we get into it, let’s start with the basics. Who are you?

Hey, I'm Dom. I'm a health enthusiast and matcha-obsessed girl living in Bondi. I have also been a model for over a decade now, but my true passion lies in inspiring others to live a healthy and fulfilling life. 

How did you get into modelling? What has been a career highlight?

I was scouted in Bondi when I was 15. I used to leave school most weeks to do shoots, and really fell in love with it. Some career highlights include shooting Pacsun in Bora Bora and collaborating with brands like Lee and Bond Eye Swim to create collections. 

Modelling is often associated with a specific standard of beauty. How has your perspective on beauty evolved over your career/time?

WOW - it has changed so much! I was so focused on my exterior beauty for such a long time. I would over-train and under-eat to meet certain beauty standards. As I’ve grown and also educated myself on women's health, I have realised that beauty is how you shine, it's how you make others feel. I also think nothing is sexier than a woman who has her shit together!

Big congrats on Selfdom. Your new podcast has quickly become a go-to platform for wellness and self-development. What inspired you to start it, and what do you hope your audience will take away from it?

Thank you, it has been my greatest passion to create the pod. I was inspired to start it when I realised I had grown up completely oblivious to what 'healthy' truly means. I was never taught what a cycle was, how to eat properly, what balance looks like and so much more. 

This awareness created a real drive for me to share my own story, in the hope it would inspire others to put their health first. Another catalyst was when my mum was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer 4 years ago - this again really showed me that without health we have nothing. 

My goal is for my audience to learn something every week, amongst the noise we see on Instagram. Creating meaningful content weekly is my true driver, and seeing messages from girls every week is the highlight of my day. 

You talk about an array of topics on the podcast. Do you have a favourite episode or guest that stands out to you?

Ooooo, my favourite episode would have to be with Sarah Cooper, a clinical nutritionist, about cycle syncing. This episode is what encouraged me to get off the birth control pill after 12 years!

What has been the most rewarding part about becoming a podcaster or entrepreneur?

Making a difference and creating meaning in others' lives.

What was the inspiration behind creating your Gratitude Journal? Can you share a personal story or experience where using your gratitude journal helped you navigate a challenging time in your life?

Journalling has been the single most effective tool on my wellness journey. Dom 7 years ago was very different! I would drink most nights and have sleeping pills to fall asleep. I really battled with my mental health and it was journalling that allowed me to get some awareness on how my play was playing out. I remember when I started, I thought it would be so “woo woo”, but the micro shift I felt instantly is what got me to stick to it, and I haven’t missed a day since.

Gratitude is scientifically proven to reprogram your mind to see more positively. The practice releases dopamine and serotonin into the brain, which makes you feel good. Another study has found that for every positive thought, we have nine negative thoughts - this just shows we need to practise gratitude daily, otherwise, we allow those negative thoughts to get the better of us. I always say to people it takes 30 days to build a habit. Just give it a go and see how you feel. 

In your experience, what are some common misconceptions about wellness and how do you think we can overcome them?

The biggest one I see is people focusing on their physical fitness without any mindfulness practices. In my opinion, good health starts from the mind and we actually need to slow down to get further. 

Sleep is a big priority for us at Flipkip, and we heard on the poddy that it’s just as important to you! Can you share your ideal bedtime routine and what makes it work so well for you?

I love my bedtime routine! I recently got an Oura ring, so now I can track my sleep which I love. My bedtime routine is very extensive, and in an ideal world, I would get to do it like this every night. Life gets in the way sometimes and that's ok.

To start, I like to eat dinner by 7 pm. Having an early meal helps with digestion which is super beneficial for sleep. I use candles instead of having lights on to help with melatonin production. I always have chamomile tea and magnesium before bed and if it's cold a comfy robe gets me feeling cosy.

I will read around 30 minutes before I get into bed (ideally around 9 pm) and wear blue light blockers. When it comes to getting into bed, I sleep with my Flipkip eye mask, and I love my Flip Silk Linen pillowcase. I write in my Gratitude Journal and then I'm usually asleep by 9:30 pm. 

What are 3 beauty/sleep/wellness products you can’t go to bed without?

Oura ring, eye mask, and a hydrating lip balm.

And to wrap it up, what are you prioritising in 2025?

2025 is the year of saying 'no'. I realised I can’t do everything and saying no sometimes means saying yes to me. 

Selfdom's limited edition Baby Pink Gratitude Journal is available to shop HERE —perfect for you or your loved one this Valentine's Day <3

Rapid Fire:

Dreamer or realist? Realist turned dreamer.
Matcha or coffee? Matcha! 
A motto I live by is... "If it's not a fuck yes, it's a fuck no!"
My superpower would be... getting others to tell me their deepest and darkest secrets.
The last book I read was...The Source by Dr Tara Swart.
The last podcast I listened to was...On Purpose by Jay Shetty.
A common misconception about modelling is...it's easy! 
A song that makes me feel good is... Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers
Something people don’t know about me is... My last name is Faludi, Elissa is my middle name 
The best advice I’ve ever gotten is... "Comparison is the thief of joy" - Mum

Learn more about Dominique Elissa and Selfdom: @dominiqueelissa + @Selfdom__