Former Model Yuli Uria Iluz Transforms Autoimmune Struggle Into Mission to Empower Women

Yuli Uria Iluz, once a successful model and law student, faced a life-altering challenge when a rare autoimmune disease nearly paralyzed her. In an interview with Dr. Hana Katan, Iluz recounts her journey from the glamorous world of fashion to a new life rooted in faith, purpose, and empowering women across Israel. Beginning modeling at age 15, she combined a promising career with legal studies, but her trajectory was abruptly halted by severe leg pain that quickly progressed to loss of mobility. Diagnosed with dermatomyositis, an autoimmune condition attacking her muscles, she endured a year of hospitalization, aggressive treatments, and rehabilitation.

Iluz reflects on her past in modeling as a world she no longer identifies with, stating that while she once loved it, she now sees it as disconnected from truth. Despite this, she still embraces beauty and fashion through her Instagram platform, which she uses to spread light and hope rather than superficial glamour. Her transformation was gradual, guided by what she describes as divine signs, culminating in a deepened faith after relocating to a Jerusalem seminary following evacuation from her home in southern Israel during the October 7 events.

Today, Iluz views her public presence and social media following of hundreds of thousands as tools for her mission to inspire and strengthen women. She emphasizes sharing not just successes but also struggles, believing that real growth comes from facing difficulties. While she continues to seek the precise path of her calling, she is certain that her experiences were meant to prepare her to help others find hope and resilience.