Butterfly welcomes Matildas star Katrina Gorry and April Hélène-Horton (aka ‘Bodzilla’) as newest Ambassadors
Australia’s leading charity for eating disorders and body image issues, Butterfly Foundation, has appointed Matildas player, Katrina Gorry, and body acceptance activist, April ‘Bodzilla’ Hélène-Horton as their new Ambassadors.
Together, they will share their stories of lived experience to advance Butterfly’s mission to dismantle stigma, disrupt diet culture and encourage help seeking.
Eating disorders cost Australia $67 billion annually in economic and wellbeing losses, affecting 1.1 million people. Each month, 100 people die due to their eating disorder and more than 10,000 develop one. Research has shown that the number of people affected is increasing, the age of onset is dropping, and the impacts are worsening.
Despite this, there is no significant investment in prevention, with the current amount spent on prevention being a fraction of a percent of health budgets. More than 4.1 million (18.9%) people in Australia aged 15 years and above experience body dissatisfaction[1], and the Ambassadors will be joining Butterfly to help to change these alarming statistics.
Katrina and April are joining eating disorder recovery coach Mia Findlay, who is an expert and advocate in the field with her own lived experience of an eating disorder and has been a Butterfly Ambassador since 2018.
While these women come with different journeys, their stories challenge everything we think we know about eating disorders, reiterating that they don’t discriminate and can affect anyone, at any lifestage, in any career, in any body.
Professional footballer, Katrina Gorry, is an inspiration on and off the pitch. She’s spoken openly about a four-year battle with an eating disorder, and the loneliness that came with it. As an elite athlete and mum of two, Katrina is shining the light on difficult conversations – and why they are so important to have with our young people.
“Working with Butterfly, I’m hoping to use my own experience to be able to positively impact people around me. I want to encourage others to talk about body image. We don’t speak about it enough, and I want to be an example for young people, especially as an athlete who people mistake for being invincible,” Katrina said.
April ‘Bodzilla’ Hélène-Horton, is a body acceptance activist who routinely reminds her loyal online following that they are worthy. April has built a safe space for her community, and has been on a mission to challenge weight stigma, celebrate diversity, and share her experience with disordered eating.
“It’s critical to understand that other people’s bodies are none of your business. You are so much more than your body and your contribution to the world is far beyond what you look like. If we really need to talk about it, then what’s important is moving your body for joy and eating to feel good and strong. That is the example I want to set for my son, my following and the broader community – that’s why I’m a Butterfly Ambassador,” explained April.
Butterfly’s CEO, Dr Jim Hungerford, shares that Butterfly is excited to work with these Ambassadors that challenge our perceptions of eating disorders, and who will help get critical messages out to the community.
“We know that eating disorders don’t always look the same and, often, you can’t tell that someone is struggling simply by looking at them. There is a real need for change. We’re proud to be teaming up with our Ambassadors, who will educate the community, challenge stigma, and, most crucially, direct people to support,” said Dr Hungerford.
The Ambassadors will feature in Butterfly campaigns and initiatives across the year as well as appearing at key awareness raising events and posting on their platforms to amplify Butterfly’s activities.
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For more information, please contact:
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About Butterfly Foundation
Butterfly is the national charity for all Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them. Butterfly changes lives by providing innovative, evidence-based support services, treatment and resources, prevention and early intervention programs, and by advocating for the needs of our community.
Editor and producers note
Please include the following support line details in all media coverage of this story and refer to the Mindframe Media guidelines for safe reporting on eating disorders.
Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact:
- Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or support@butterfly.org.au
- Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
- For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14
[1] Butterfly Foundation & KPMG, ‘The Real Cost of Appearance Ideals and Discrimination’ (3 Feb 2025).
