My MUSE | Emma Wylie
Hello everyone, Michele here to introduce you to this week's My MUSE: the warm, kind-hearted, and truly radiant Emma Wylie.
I still remember the first day Emma and I met — she walked into our Ponsonby store wearing the most gorgeous yellow dress, absolutely glowing. She radiated sunshine, and honestly, that’s Emma to her core: sunshine in human form.
Emma grew up as one of four girls in a home where health and wellbeing were deeply valued. Her mum, a passionate cook who also worked in the health space, took great care in teaching her daughters not just how to prepare food, but how to truly understand and respect their bodies. That early foundation became a guiding light for Emma — and it’s easy to see how her deep-rooted love for food, science, and supporting women was born.
Now a Registered Nutritionist with over a decade of experience, Emma recently launched her own business, Elo Wellbeing — a holistic consulting service (online and in-person) grounded in her mission to help women feel informed, empowered, and at home in their bodies.
When she’s not in consults or building her brand, you’ll find Emma teaching Pilates at Auckland’s SALA studio, moving her body outdoors, or spending quality time with her partner and close friends.
I sat down with Emma to chat all things nutrition, wellbeing, and how fashion sparks her joy.
What sparked your passion for nutrition and supporting women specifically?
Growing up my mum was always an incredible and creative cook, and she also worked in the health space. I think we have always bonded over our love for health science and also food, so I think it's only natural I ended up in this space. Over the past four years working specifically with women's health I have become so passionate about helping women access the knowledge and care to thrive in life, rather than just survive. It was all too common to hear stories of dismission, or lack of empathy and support when it came to female health concerns which broke my heart, and just made me determined to work with more women, sharing time, tools or learnings to help them feel seen, heard and supported in their health journeys.
What do you wish more women knew—or felt more empowered about—when it comes to nutrition and wellbeing?
That weight is just gravity's pull on your body and doesn't say anything about your worth and value, your body shape and composition or the size of your heart and smile. There's so, so much more to health than a number on the scale, it's a feeling, it's the ability to do life well, it's enjoyment and it's about being nourished. So throw away the scales, and focus more about what goodness you're putting into your body, rather than forever subtracting.
Your number one, non-negotiable wellbeing practice?
A really, really quality breakfast. It needs to have protein, a little fats, some fiber from fruits or vegetables and a little energy from some carbohydrates. It needs to be balanced to give you the best start to your busy day, and it needs to satiate you well. A good, balanced breakfast is going to support stable blood sugar levels and reduce the effects of delayed hunger that can leave us ravenous later in the afternoon. I think of breakfast as protective, to help me feel more in control with my food and eating, and more stable in my mood and energy. At the moment I'm loving a protein smoothie, but as the weather cools down I'll lean more into eggs, something like a filled omelette.
You launched Elo Wellbeing in May last year, which is such an exciting step. Can you share a bit about what inspired you to start Elo?
Such an exciting step, thank you! I'd always been asked earlier in my career as a nutritionist whether I would start my own nutrition clinic, but I knew that I wanted more work and life experience before I did.
After the past 10 years in the industry, but particularly the past 4 years working specifically with women clinically in the hormonal health space, namely PCOS, I could clearly see there was a support offering in the female health space that was lacking. I would regularly see women, friends and family, other colleagues struggling with health issues, but not knowing where to go for support, or even recognising there were lifestyle changes that could support them, and bring more ease into their lives every day.
What is it about clothes or fashion that brings you joy—what makes it fun for you?
Long before nutrition, my pipe dream was to be a fashion designer, however being terrible at sewing put that dream to bed many years ago. Whilst studying for university I worked in fashion, and have always chased down Dior exhibitions or fashion museums. I love the creativity and playfulness that fashion brings, the ability to express yourself through clothing and design. I often think of clothing as equally as beautifully as art. It's no surprise I've ended up with a huge percentage of friends who work both here in NZ and in the UK in fashion, I'm forever drawn to the industry.
If you had to sum up your personal style in four words, what would they be?
Relaxed, natural, maybe Scandinavian and slightly bohemian (à la Chloe)
Do you have a go-to outfit formula for days when you’re short on time but want to feel put-together?
A Harris Tapper jacket or coat always makes me feel put together. Team that with a well fitted tee, a great pair of wide leg jeans, a little ballet flat peeping out the bottom and I'm ready to go.
And finally, what current MUSE pieces are on your wish list?
Everything from Plan C - I've adored Marni forever, so to learn that Plan C is the daughter of Marni's founders, paired with their effortlessly cool style and incredible denim and knit pieces, I'm obsessed - add all to cart!
