Elen Rivas The Spanish Model Who Carved Her Own Path

When people hear the name Elen Rivas, the first thing that often comes to mind is her long-term relationship with football legend Frank Lampard. But to define her solely by that chapter of her life would be doing her a real disservice. Elen Rivas is a Spanish model, animal rights activist, television personality, and entrepreneur who has spent years building a story entirely her own — one that stretches far beyond the headlines.

From a difficult childhood in Barcelona to red carpets in London, from PETA campaigns to launching her own business, Elen Rivas is a woman who has quietly refused to be put in a box. Here’s a closer look at who she really is.

A Childhood That Shaped Everything

Elen Rivas was born in Barcelona, Spain, and from the very beginning, life was not easy. She grew up as the youngest child in a family marked by hardship. Her mother battled alcoholism, and when Elen was just seven years old, she suffered the devastating loss of her ten-year-old sister in a car accident. Her father eventually left, and with two older brothers who struggled with their own difficulties, much of the family responsibility landed on young Elen’s shoulders.

Rather than letting those circumstances define her in a negative way, she let them build her. She took on multiple jobs to help support her family, even working on market stalls in Barcelona alongside her mother. It was this resilience — quiet, determined, unshakeable — that would follow her throughout her life and career.

From Barcelona to the British Fashion Scene

Elen Rivas made her move to London and found her footing in the fashion and modelling world. With striking looks and a warm, grounded personality, she worked with various fashion and beauty brands, building her public profile steadily. She became particularly recognised for lingerie advertising campaigns within leading UK stores, and her work gave her a platform that was entirely her own.

One of her most talked-about modelling moments came through a collaboration with PETA. In a bold and eye-catching ad campaign, Elen posed to promote vegetarianism and speak out against bullfighting — a cause she felt deeply passionate about as a Spanish woman who knew just how culturally entrenched the practice was. The campaign made waves, and it showed that Elen Rivas was never just a pretty face in front of a camera. She had convictions, and she was willing to use her platform to push for them.

Lights, Camera, Action: Her Television Journey

Elen Rivas stepped into the world of British television with a presence that was natural and refreshingly real. Her first notable TV credit came in 2010 when she appeared as a contestant on Marco’s Kitchen Burnout, the intense culinary reality series fronted by Marco Pierre White. She competed across three episodes and impressed viewers with her strength and determination, ultimately finishing in second place in the final.

That same year, she made a guest appearance on Loose Women, the beloved daytime chat show, where she spoke candidly about her life. In 2011, Elen took on one of her most memorable challenges when she joined the cast of Dancing on Ice. Partnered with professional skater Łukasz Różycki, she performed to the classic Sade track “Your Love Is King” — a pairing that suited her style perfectly. Though she was eliminated after Qualifying 2, her appearance introduced her to a whole new audience and proved she was more than willing to step outside her comfort zone.

She also appeared in two episodes of Peter Andre: The Next Chapter and made an appearance on This Morning that same year. Beyond the studio lights, Elen took part in a BBC documentary that saw her travel to South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup, where she worked alongside impoverished orphans, street children, and HIV victims in Cape Town. The experience clearly left a mark on her — she later spoke openly about how it reshaped her perspective on wealth, celebrity, and what truly matters.

A Voice for Those Who Cannot Speak

Elen Rivas has never been shy about standing up for the causes she believes in. As an animal rights activist, she has been one of the more vocal public figures speaking out against bullfighting, publicly supporting Catalonia’s ban on the practice and urging tourists to refuse to attend bullfights during their travels to Spain. Her PETA collaboration was just one piece of a much larger picture of activism.

Her philanthropic work extends well beyond animal rights, too. Elen has served as a patron of four charities close to her heart: Barnardo’s, The Prince’s Trust, Wellbeing of Women, and Make A Difference. She has also lent her support to Children in Need and Comic Relief. On top of that, she took part in multiple London Marathons to raise funds and awareness, and regularly contributed as a writer to holistic and fitness publications. For Elen, giving back has never been a PR move — it has always looked like a genuine extension of who she is.

Frank Lampard and Elen Rivas: The Full Story

No article about Elen Rivas would be complete without an honest look at the relationship that brought her into the British public spotlight. Frank Lampard and Elen Rivas first met in a London bar in April 2002 — a chance encounter that turned into a seven-year relationship. The couple became engaged, and by all accounts they were genuinely happy together for much of that time.

Their relationship brought two daughters into the world. Luna Lampard — full name Luna Coco Patricia Lampard — was born on 22 August 2005, and Isla Lampard followed on 20 May 2007. The family appeared to be thriving, but in late 2008, frank Lampard and Elen Rivas went their separate ways. The reasons behind the split were never fully disclosed publicly, and to their credit, both parties kept the details private.

What is clear is that the separation was handled with dignity and maturity. Elen Rivas raised Luna Lampard and Isla Lampard as a single mother for 12 years, and she has never spoken negatively about their father in public. In a 2020 interview, she described Frank Lampard as a good father and noted that the girls love him deeply, always watching his matches and following his football career closely. Elen made sure that despite the end of her relationship with Frank Lampard, her daughters never lost their connection to their dad.

Life as a Single Mother and a New Chapter

For over a decade after her separation from Frank Lampard, Elen Rivas quietly got on with life. She focused on her daughters, her activism, and her own wellbeing. She wasn’t chasing the cameras, and that in itself said a lot about her character.

In October 2020, she gave a rare glimpse into her personal life by revealing that she had been in a relationship for three years with Dino Costas, a Cyprus-born international luxury watch dealer. It was a refreshingly private announcement — no fanfare, no staged photos, just a woman sharing a happy part of her life on her own terms.

Building Something of Her Own

As her time in the public spotlight became less of a priority, Elen Rivas turned her energy toward building real, lasting ventures. She founded La Organiser, a home organisation business designed to help clients create structured, calm, and functional living spaces. The concept tapped into a growing cultural appetite for mindful, organised living — and it reflected Elen’s own practical, hands-on nature.

She also launched a beauty clinic, channelling her long-standing passion for health and wellness into a professional service. It was a natural evolution for someone who had spent years in the beauty and fashion industry, and it showed that her ambitions had always extended beyond the limelight.

The Legacy of Elen Rivas

It would be easy to write about Elen Rivas purely through the lens of her connection to Frank Lampard. But the fuller picture is far more interesting. She is a woman who came from nothing, rebuilt herself multiple times, raised two daughters with grace and love, and carved out a professional identity that belongs entirely to her.

The story of frank Lampard and Elen Rivas is one chapter in a much longer book. The real story is about a Spanish woman who arrived in a foreign country, found her voice, stood up for animals and children and women, competed on television, ran marathons, started businesses, and kept her head held high through all of it.

Elen Rivas continues to advocate for the causes she believes in and lives life largely away from the glare of public attention — and honestly, it suits her perfectly.

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