ON DUTY CITIZEN
OKSANA OREL
1) What are a few things you do to stay environmentally friendly?
I mostly buy used furniture and refurbish it to the style that I want. It's environmentally friendly, much cheaper, and a fun hobby of mine! I also try to sell off or give away any old furniture/books/clothes/shoes/technology so it doesn’t end up in the landfills. Reuse and recycle! Also I am pretty lucky to live in a building that has a great recycling and compost program to further help reroute things from the landfill. I also take a reusable coffee mug to grab my fav cup of joe, and can't forget my glass or metal water bottles!
2) Do you have any favorite sustainable or ethical clothing lines?
I am in love with Stella McCartney and her cruelty free moto when it comes to clothing. I also try to be cautious and look where a garment was made as countries like Canada and US have stricter laws when it comes to textile pollution compared to China. Buying local clothing also cuts down on the CO2 emissions needed to bring the clothes from factory to store. Better yet, a few times a year I will have a clothing/shoe swap with my model friends for a free update on your wardrobe! (Such a great idea! I've been dying to host one myself.)
3) What are some of your favorite organic beauty products?
I am a huge fan of Josie Maran skincare and makeup products and Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay mask, which is just clay and you just add apple cider vinegar to it. (Hands down my fav. go-to mask!) In general, my rule of thumb is, the less ingredients the better!
4) On a day off, you’re heading to your favorite coffee shop. What are you wearing?
Typically ripped jeans and a rocker T-shirt or a shift dress, leather jacket and ankle booties.
5) Tell me about something you’re doing simultaneously with modeling that motivates you. Another job? A project? Volunteering? A hobby?
I am in love with education! Currently I am in my undergrad for Hydrogeology with a keen interest as well in Atmospheric Sciences. When school is out, I cant sit still, and keep myself busy with house DIY projects or crafts. As I'm on maternity leave now, I’ve been entertaining myself with learning to code in Python. During the winters, I spend most weekends on the slopes, learning new tricks on my snowboard!
6) In addition to modeling, what else may you be doing in your future, say 5 years from now?
5 years from now I hope to be in a job that makes sure our water reservoirs are safe from fracking and tailings, and from other industrial waste. If I won’t be dealing with groundwater, or water reservoirs, I most likely will be at an atmospheric/weather related job making sense of all the satellite imagery that comes in and showcasing how our world is changing due to climate change and human input.
