ON DUTY CITIZEN
GRACE MAHARY
1) What are a few things you do to stay environmentally friendly?
We each have a responsibility to decrease our ecological footprint. By living in New York, I try to do this in a number of little ways: not letting water taps run (when washing dishes or brushing teeth), separating recyclables, not littering, reusing water bottles, shopping vintage or recycled materials, and giving away old goods. (Amazing suggestions Grace! We have the tools to do great things and it can be as easy as separating your garbage.)
2) Do you have any favorite sustainable or ethical clothing lines?
I enjoy vintage shopping because it’s a fun way to surprise your personal style while supporting sustainability. HM’s conscious collection and Reformation are also great ethical lines I like to shop.
3) What are some of your favorite organic beauty products?
Currently, I am obsessed with Algenist! Their Splash and Power moisturizers are both rejuvenating and made from sustainable and renewable products.
When I travel, I like to carry rose oil/water, vitamin E oil, and lavender oil all for each of their nourishing skin care properties.
4) On a day off, you’re heading to your favorite coffee shop. What are you wearing?
It really depends on the day as I’m a firm feel-to-dress kind of girl. I wake up and put on what feels good to me. It could be high waisted or boyfriend denim and a top, or tights and a long sweater/shirt.
5) Tell me about something you’re doing simultaneously with modeling that motivates you. Another job? A project? Volunteering? A hobby?
I am currently developing a nonprofit in clean energy called Project Tsehigh (pronounced seh-high). As a model, I have been fortunate and given the opportunity to travel the world. In doing so, I picked up on the energy poverty and inaccessibility in many different countries. The most moving was when I was visiting Eritrea, the country from which my parents emigrated to Canada. When there, I would be sitting in cafes or at family homes and POOF! The electricity cut and darkness sunk in, save for a few candles or, if one could afford it, a fuel generator would jump on to restore energy. These generators pollute the air with harmful gas emissions. With air pollution and energy inconsistency, I saw this situation as an opportunity to help improve the quality of life for these people and, in the future, several more communities around the world also living with limited access to sustainable energy.
Project Tsehigh was created to provide clean energy solutions for underserved or rural communities around the world. We are starting by donating solar panels, batteries, and light bulbs to households in East Africa. I love using my platform for positive change, and I know how much of an impact we can all make by helping others conquer energy poverty. As an organization, we are in the fundraising and raising awareness stage and would love to hear from folks interested in supporting at projecttsehigh@gmail.com . (With your purchase of an ODM/ODC reusable water bottle, $5 will go to Project Tsehigh to help support their mission.)
6) In addition to modeling, what else may you be doing in your future, say 5 years from now?
I truly hope that in five years from now, Project Tsehigh is still up and running and has impacted at least one community each year active. I’ve always found happiness in empowering others-- sometimes I feel like a giant cheerleader ;) -- and I hope that in the future I can do more than cheer and really strengthen the ways in which I help others.
Grace recently chatted with Channel One news about her work with Project Tsehigh. You can learn more about how to get involved here and watch her interview here. Congrats on all your hard work Grace. It's a beautiful thing you're doing for your country and a truly inspiring thing for us model's to look up to!)
