Coretta Scott King became a vegan after she was inspired by her son Dexter’s friend, human rights activist, Dick Gregory.

In Dick’s memoir, Callus on My Soul, he wrote:

“I had been a participant in all of the ‘major’ and most of the ‘minor’ civil rights demonstrations of the early sixties. Under the leadership of Dr. King, I became totally committed to nonviolence, and I was convinced that nonviolence meant opposition to killing in any form. I felt the commandment ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’ applied to human beings not only in their dealings with each other—war, lynching, assassination, murder and the like—but in their practice of killing animals for food and sport. Animals and humans suffer and die alike. Violence causes the same pain, the same spilling of blood, the same stench of death, the same arrogant, cruel and brutal taking of life.”

Here we go.

Ingredients:

1 Bushel of Kale (any type – just make sure you trim the ends off)

1 pack Nativo Acai (raw) – You can find this in the fruit freezer section in your health food store – Whole Foods carries this product.

1.5 Cups of blueberries (frozen)

2 Cups of strawberries (frozen)

2 Cups of Mango (frozen)

1 Banana

3 Limes (2 peeled, 1 with skin-for garnishing)

1-2 Cups filtered water (depending on how thick you like your smoothie)

1 Generous handful of fresh mint

1 Chunk of fresh ginger ( about the size of your thumb)

Optional: Several pinches of dehydrated shredded coconut (unsweetened), and Stevia natural sweetner (liquid form) or Truvia

Step 1: Blend all of the ingredients together in your Vitamix except for one lime and several sprigs of fresh mint. If you like a sweet smoothie or are serving the drink as a dessert or making it into a popsicle, add a couple squirts of stevia natural sweetener.

Step 2: Pour the mix into your glasses or popsicle molds. I like to garnish the tops of the drinks with a pinch of dehydrated shredded coconut, and  put a lime on the side of the glass with a sprig of fresh mint. I really love the shredded coconut because it adds a slightly crunchy texture to the smoothie that makes drinking the smoothie a slightly  different and tasty experience.

The Citrus Ginger-Mint Smoothie is such a healthy summer drink. I love to start my day off with this smoothie; the ginger and mint really wakes me up and the kale makes me feel incredibly healthy. Serve it at your next backward BBQ and let your friends try to guess what’s inside!

Note: If you want to use fresh fruit, you can use the same amounts as specified for the frozen fruit, and add 1-2 cups of ice depending on how cold you’d like the smoothie.

This recipe is raw, vegan, and gluten free.

You can purchase these statement pieces for $125-175; a reasonable price point for a high end designer like Proenza Schouler. What else is there to love about these bold Spring beauties? They’re made of rope! That mean’s no leather! …I can definitely support that! Here’s the bracelet that caught my eye the first time…

After seeing all of the bracelets, I might be leaning more towards the thinner bracelets; I would try layering a few of them together. What do you guys think?

…If you are on a budget and feeling creative, you could visit your local hardware store and pick up the rope colors and caribeaner (the clasp) of your choice, and try making your own colorful rope bracelet!

Here’s a few teasers so you can see what I’ve been up to:

A lot of you have expressed your interest in modeling to me and I wanted to share an interview that www.plusmodels.com posted with my agent, Aida Brigman, at CLICK Model Management in NYC.

This interview addresses most of the questions that I had when I was going through the process of deciding whether or not I should pursue modeling as a career. Aida answers questions about tattoos, size, height, mistakes new models make, current state of the industry, and much more.

Click here for link to interview

You can find a similar interview on Plus Models with my other agent, Dorothy Combs, with Dorothy Combs Models in Miami.

Click here for link to interview

Here are some pictures of the recent models the site has featured:

If you’re interested, you can find my interview on Plus Size Models Unite here.

Thank you Angela and Elizabeth for your interminable contributions to the ‘plus’ modeling industry; you ladies rock.

Emily

I recently was featured on the Madison Plus website as their new Fresh Face. I really am honored to be a part of a such a beautiful movement; where models can be themselves–happy and healthy. Madison Plus is based out of New York City and offers a common ground for the fashionable, modern, and average/plus-sized woman. I really appreciate website’s like Madison Plus because the site doesn’t define or label you by your size or shape, but rather offers a common ground for all women of all sizes.

http://madisonplus.com/mp-insider/mp-fresh-face-emily-nolan-nyc/

Another website/ blog I really love is www.plussizemodelsunite.com (PSMU). I have had the pleasure of becoming close friends with the website’s co-founder, Angela Jones, (who looks like a hybrid of Cindy Crawford and Martina McBride) and I refer to their site and Facebook page almost daily. I love to read their model’s interviews from around the world and see what they’re up to, as well as meet interesting people who believe in coming together and uniting as healthy individuals; PSMU is about defying all of the labels and definitions that the media has indicated that everyone should live by.

http://plussizemodelsunite.com/

This holiday, I’m grateful for many things, like the opportunity to live out my dream as a professional model, and stand-up for all the young women who aspire to do the same. Most of all, I’m grateful that a ‘home’ has been built for women, like myself, through wonderful people like the women at Madison Plus, Plus Size Models Unite, my agencies–Click +, Dorothy Combs, and The Campbell Agency– my beautiful fellow model friends (all of which have absolutely tormented my older brother and close guy friends), and my dear family who has supported me and allowed me to blossom as I am.

Straight or curvy...either way, embrace it and have fun sister!

As I was growing up, I listened to the Dixie Chicks religiously. To this day, I can sing every song they’ve ever released, and with each word, I can vividly remember the emotions, sense of empowerment, and the feeling that I’d get that, knowing that there were other women out there, that were going to be there, for me. For each other.

…Just like my modeling community and the wonderful people who have shaped my life and created so many opportunities for so many more beautiful women in the future.

“I’ve seen ‘em rise, and I’ve seen ‘em fall. Some get nothin’, and Lord some get it all. Some just run while others crawl away. So hold my hand baby don’t let go, I’ve got some front money and I’ve got a next show, and I’m gonna need you down this yellow brick road.” – Dixie Chicks

For all the women who choose to be you, all the women who have united to help create a healthier community and lifestyle, and for all of the young women who are full of hopes and dreams, we are here–I am here–to hold your hand as you walk down your yellow brick road. And what an exciting road that will be!

Happy holidays!!! And may your new year be full of much success and happiness! BIG hugs and kisses.

Warm holiday wishes,

xxEmily

Book review: ‘Unbearable Lightness’ by Portia de Rossi.

Another reason that I truly admire Ellen and Portia, is because they are hugely compassionate about sparing animals from our diets. Sure, you do not have to be a vegan to be healthy, but some people find it healing to practice compassion and advocate for an animal-free diet and lifestyle.  Ellen offers her tips on, “Why Go Vegan?”

Just for kicks–and laughs–I thought I’d include Ellen’s recent CoverGirl commercial where she jokingly asks, “Why do models always look so mad?” …Enjoy!

I was watching CBS WUSA Channel 9 News last night and saw a clip on the rise in popularity of “Laughter Clubs.” …after watching people laugh themselves to tears, I decided this is something that I must try!

Laughter truly is the best medicine! There’s nothing like a good belly-aching, tear jerking laugh that goes on for minutes. I have a girlfriend that makes me laugh so hard, that I always look forward to being around her…as a matter of fact, I think I’ll call her now!

Laughter and love! XoX

It is certainly an exhausting battle that much of the modeling industry is fighting now, advocating that healthy and happy models are what we want our children to grow up idolizing, and how we want our end consumers viewing our respected designer’s clothing lines (that would be us, the one’s standing in line at the store waiting to fork out a pretty penny for those size 10 and 12 dresses–whatever fits your curves). With the full support from the industry’s pioneers, happy and healthy models are on the cutting edge of defining what’s to come for–at least–the next ten years.

Growing up, my Grandma jokingly taught me that, “If you can’t look skinny, look rich.” …The bigger the jeans, the bigger the pockets!

Certainly top designers like Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, and Karl Lagerfeld have been in the good company of beautiful curvy woman like Emme, Rachel Ray, Raquel Welsh, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Hendricks, Oprah, Beyonce, and even Martha Stewart…and hello, most of their pocket books have topped Forbes’ lists year after year. If it were up to me, I’d use models that looked like those women. As a consumer, I interpret the advertisements that use real beautiful women in them as, “we’re healthy and happy women, and you can be too! We’re rich (however you want to define that), happy and healthy!” …and that message is definitely more certain than any fortune cookie.

(As a side, I opened a fortune cookie after dinner last night, and it revealed that, “You will have good luch.” ….oh boy…!)

The reality of it all is, people want to see curves. People want to see reality. Let’s give it to them.

So, I say, let’s all have our cake and eat it too!

Check out some of the beautiful woman who are pioneering this movement:

]]> http://mlestyle.com/haute-and-healthy-women/feed/ 5 http://mlestyle.com/wilhelmina-curves-for-change/ http://mlestyle.com/wilhelmina-curves-for-change/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:17:26 +0000 MLEstyle http://mlestyle.com/?p=564 Read the Rest...]]> I was so excited when I found out about Wilhelmina’s “Curves for Change” initiative! Curves for Change is bringing attention to the modeling industry’s bad reputation for using models that are dangerously thin, and promoting the new push for healthy-sized women in the industry. Truly fantastic!

I looked at my schedule to see if I’d be able to make it to the 5k run/walk in NYC this November 20, and it looks like I’m free! Well, not anymore; I’ll be signing up for my first 5k ever!

For the most part, I do my running on a treadmill, but on November 20th, you’ll catch me running outside, in honor of every healthy woman out there! What a beautiful thing!

XoX, Emily