Lara Rebecca is a celebrated mental health and fitness advocate who’s incredible story of overcoming adversity inspires audiences and encourages open and honest conversations about mental health. Now a popular and sought-after speaker, Lara delivers talks and workshops across the UK, sharing her own personal experiences with mental health struggles and exploring how challenges can shape us for the better.
Lara’s messages are deeply rooted in her own personal lived experience. At 16, Lara nearly lost her life due to a severe eating disorder: anorexia nervosa. What began as a way to cope with feelings of anxiety and depression through control, spiralled into a near-fatal illness. Lara underwent years of therapy, hospitalisation and recovery which led to deep personal growth and an emotional and psychological transformation.
Passionate about sharing her experiences and supporting others, at just seventeen, Lara began a weekly blog to openly discuss her experiences with mental health and her journey to recovery. Then in 2018, she launched her YouTube channel which has since had over 8 million views! While completing her BSc in Sports and Exercise at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Lara started The Keep Smiling Podcast, which focuses on mental health and eating disorder awareness and features special guests including Kate Naess and Rob Hosking. In 2023, Lara launched The Keep Smiling Collective, an organisation dedicated to mental health awareness, education and promoting positivity.
With a unrelenting drive to destigmatise the conversations around mental health, Lara’s candid and raw approach offers audiences a relatable, deeply human perspective on healing and growing in an uplifting way. Combining powerful storytelling with actionable insights, Lara is a compelling speaker with unique insights into rediscovery, mindset and meaningful growth. If you’re looking for a speaker to spark open and honest conversations around mental health, eating disorder awareness and wellbeing, get in touch today to hire Lara.
Lara Rebecca's official speaking topics are listed below:
- Lived Experience: Rebuilding After Anorexia
- Destigmatising Eating Disorders: Raising Awareness and Shifting Perceptions
- Wellbeing and Mental Health: The Ongoing Journey
- Growing from Adversity: How Challenges Can Shape Us for the Better
- Building a Balanced, Health Lifestyle
Official Feedback From In-Person & Virtual Events
"I was lucky to hear Lara’s speak at a recent Welsh Water event where she was speaking at a mental health session. Lara spoke openly and honestly about her lived experience of ill mental health and eating disorders. I learned so much from Lara’s story and I know that her story impacted on others. I have absolutely no doubt that Lara’s openness and honesty has and will save lives. Lara is such an engaging speaker and has a wonderful, positive outlook which is certainly catching! If you are looking for mental health speakers then consider Lara. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you so much Lara. It was a pleasure to meet you." - Kathryn, Talent Development Advisor, Welsh Water
"Having Lara work with us was a great first for Principality! Disordered Eating was not a topic we had ever previously approached as a company however, one our Wellbeing Matters Network felt was important that we face into. Lara was authentic, raw and brought a real insight into her lived experience. Her honesty was refreshing and courageous and brought to life the challenges individuals who experience disordered eating face. Lara signposted areas for support including herself. I would recommend working with Lara as she represents so many people and her story is truly inspiring." - Amy, Principality Building Society
"We asked Lara to help us out with some webinars for our Mental Health Month back in May and she couldn’t have been more accommodating. We work with over 16,000 schools all over the UK, so she even did some of the webinars in Welsh. The webinars were so insightful and informative they provided a real and honest view of anxiety and depression. Lara is confident when speaking which really helps when delivering such a powerful message. All our customers loved the webinars, we got some overwhelming feedback and hope to work with her again in the near future!" - Amy, Marketing Coordinator, CPOMS Systems Limited
"Lara did an amazing job moderating our UKA Eating Disorder Awareness panel. She was engaging with all athletes and participants, and kept the discussions on point, adding in her own knowledge of the topics." - Robyn, British Athletics
"Lara Rebecca shared her personal journey of recovering from an eating disorder with our learners. Her story is both terrifying and inspirational, as she speaks with openness, knowledge, and passion. Lara's journey provokes thought about the impact of throwaway comments on family and friends while providing tools and understanding for approaching similar situations. Although eating disorders are treated as almost a taboo conversation, Lara simplifies this whole conversation and starting with wellness and happiness." - James, HRC Online
"We had the chance to have Lara with us in our Wagamama branch, here in Cardiff, during the mental health awareness week in 2022. I’ve been following Lara journey and I’ve always thought she is able to inspire people. For this reason I asked her to run a conversation event here in our restaurant with some different guests, who'd never met each other, talking about mental health. I was a bit nervous about it at first, because I didn’t know if any of the guests would have felt comfortable talking about it with strangers, but Lara, starting talking about her experience, made them feel comfortable and showed how important is to talk about mental health and that there is nothing wrong about struggling with that and asking for help. The outcome from the guests was amazing. They all loved her and told me they found talking with Lara really helpful. That event proved me what I’ve always thought about Lara, she is great, strong and inspires people." - Alice, Manager, Wagamama
"I worked with Lara on her podcast. Lara was so friendly and made it feel so easy and comfortable! Her humble approach was clear during our time working together and I continue to follow her work and keep in touch now. Thank you Lara, for making the time and effort to ensure other people can share their stories and experiences!" - Lucy, LV Recovery
"Lara is an exceptional and truly inspirational individual, fuelled by a strong sense of purpose. Watching her grow over the recent years, and having the privilege of collaborating closely with her, has been an incredibly rewarding experience." - Oly, Run4YourMindFoundation
"Lara expertly delivered some very personal and insightful content for the Champion Health employee health and wellbeing platform, adding great value that is sure to have an impact on people. Lara was such a pleasure to work with, extremely competent and knowledgeable, we couldn't have asked for more." - Myles, Champion Health
- 2025 – MSc Sports Psychology, Cardiff Metropolitan University
- 2024 – The Keep Smiling Collective won Graduate Business of the Year Award at Cardiff Met Centre of Entrepreneurship Awards
- 2023 – BSc Sports and Exercise, Cardiff Metropolitan University
- 2023 – Founder of The Keep Smiling Collective
- 2021 – Fitness Assistant at Met Active
- 2020 – Launched The Keep Smiling Podcast
- 2018 – Launched “Lara Rebecca” YouTube Channel
How to hire Lara Rebecca
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Lara Rebecca for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
