Earth Month: How Activism Shaped My Sustainable Journey
I can’t really talk about Earth Month without talking about where so much of this journey began for me.
For me, it started with Model Activist—also known as Model Mafia—a group I joined nearly a decade ago that profoundly changed not only how I approached sustainability, but how I moved through both my personal life and professional career.
Founded in 2017 by models Cameron Russell and Aine Campbell, Model Activist created something rare: a safe, equitable, and deeply supportive environment where models—primarily women—could come together to lead conversations around sustainability, climate justice, and systemic change within the fashion industry and beyond.
I joined very early on and became part of the steering committee, where we organized gatherings, led discussions, marched, and created space for meaningful dialogue around sustainability in fashion and business—particularly from the perspective of models themselves.
It wasn’t performative.
It was thoughtful, empowering, and action-oriented.
And for me, it was life-changing.
This community helped shape my understanding of sustainability not as a seasonal trend, but as an ongoing responsibility. It taught me that activism can take many forms, and that creating safer, more ethical systems often begins with simply gathering people together and asking better questions.
The Foundation Behind Amberlight Beauty
Model Activist was also absolutely paramount in the creation of Amberlight Beauty.
Long before Amberlight became what it is today, this group of remarkable women encouraged me to trust my vision of creating a botanical, holistic skincare brand rooted in sustainability, intentionality, and integrity.
Their belief in me mattered deeply.
Many of these same women—my peers, fellow activists, and friends—have since become the faces of Amberlight Beauty, which feels incredibly full circle. Looking at you Kaye Li & Hartje :)
There’s something so powerful about building a brand supported by the very community that helped inspire it.
Amberlight Beauty was never meant to be separate from my values.
It was built because of them.
That’s why every detail matters—including packaging.
Our bottles are glass because, to this day, glass remains one of the most sustainable packaging choices available. It’s reusable, recyclable, and aligned with the circular mindset that guides everything I do.
Activism Can Look Soft
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that activism doesn’t always need to be loud.
Sometimes it’s loud.
Sometimes it’s organizing marches or leading conversations.
But sometimes, activism looks soft.
It looks like changing your purchasing habits.
It looks like refusing single-use plastics.
It looks like bringing your own bags, choosing better packaging, supporting regenerative brands, or simply sharing what you’ve learned with the people around you.
For me, activism has often meant:
Spreading awareness
Having conversations
Encouraging habit shifts
Leading by example
Being “too much” until others begin to shift too
My family and friends have definitely thought I was intense at times—but over the years, many of them changed their own habits as well.
That’s the thing about sustainability: consistency matters.
I’ve avoided plastic bottles and plastic bags for decades. Some sustainable swaps can still feel challenging (solid shampoo, for example), but often it’s simply about breaking old habits and discovering better alternatives.
And thankfully, we now have so many.
Voices to Follow & Products I Truly Use
If you’re looking to deepen your own sustainability journey, following educators, activists, and founders who consistently share thoughtful resources can make a huge difference.
Some valuable voices include:
Anne Therese Gennari - climate optimist and ‘Hey Change’ podcaster
Summer Rayne Oakes - environmental scientist and entomologist, founder of ‘Homestead Brooklyn’ and co-founder of ‘Flock Finger Lakes’
Toni Garrn - founder of the ‘Super Flea Market’ and ‘Toni Garrn Foundation’
Sinead Bovell - the futurist and host of the podcast on AI and emerging technologies ‘I’ve Got Questions’
Sierra Quitiquit - professional skier, model, environmentalist, entrepreneur, founder of ‘Plastic Free Fridays’ and ‘Time For Better’
Madeleine MacGillivray - founder of ‘Super Heroes Needed’ and climate lead at ‘Seeding Sovereignty’
And when it comes to products, I always believe in sharing what I’ve genuinely used and trusted for years—not trends, but long-term staples.
Some tried-and-tested sustainable choices in my life include:
Solid shampoo and soap bars, favorites must be ‘Ethique Beauty’ and ‘Superzero’ which I discovered via ‘Made Safe’ - human health and ecosystem-focused product certification program
Once an Activist, Always an Activist
Earth Month is a beautiful reminder, but sustainability has never been a one-month practice for me.
It’s a lifelong commitment.
A way of living.
A way of building.
A way of creating brands, relationships, and rituals that feel aligned with the future we want.
Model Activist helped ignite that path for me.
Amberlight Beauty became an extension of it.
And today, I still believe the same thing:
Activism can be powerful.
Activism can be soft.
But once an activist, always an activist.
Model Activist shot by Carlota Guerrero