Actor, activist, and entrepreneur Alicia Silverstone has come a long way from her “Clueless” days. Since starring in the now iconic 1995 hit movie, the star kept acting, but she also became a mother, a vegan, and a keen advocate for both wellness and animal rights. She also founded Mykind Organics, a certified organic, non-GMO, successful line of vitamins, aimed at families.
The “American Woman” star recently sat down with Forbes magazine to discuss what inspired her to create Mykind, as well as how “amazing” her vegan lifestyle makes her feel.
It was during her pregnancy seven years ago that the idea for the vitamin line was born, Silverstone recalled. Pre-existing products just didn’t align with her values, she explained. “Everything I found either had lots of chemicals, it wasn’t vegan, or it was food based wrapped in chemicals,” she said. “I realized that if I wanted a truly great vitamin option, I was going to have to make it myself.”
Shortly after this epiphany, the star partnered with Garden of Life, “a certified B Corp with standout sustainability initiatives.” Initially marketed toward pregnant women, Silverstone soon realized that “everyone deserves [Mykind], not just the preggos;” so the long “frustrating” process of planting, harvesting, and testing plant-based formulas began. “We innovated a groundbreaking extraction method without the use of conventional GMO corn alcohol or other harsh chemicals, which took time and was no small feat,” she recalled.
But it was worth the hard work. The vitamin line is now widely distributed across the US, and made its UK debut late last year.
Fundamentally, Silverstone is a vegan for the animals and her activism frequently makes headlines. She has spoken out against the fur trade and animal-tested cosmetics, and she has called for support in the name of grizzly bear protection. She is also a keen environmentalist and believes that following a vegan diet is one of the best things a person can do for the planet.
But it’s not just about doing the right thing by the animals and the environment, says Silverstone. Veganism is also about feeling good. “[After going vegan], I ditched by asthma inhaler, stopped my weekly allergy shots, lost weight, and had a new glow from my skin and hair,” she said. “I felt incredible from having more energy and balanced out moods.”
She continued, “From this game-changing transformation, I couldn’t hold myself back from keeping this ‘secret.’ My advocacy for this was is embedded in who I am. As a result, when I was pregnant and seeking a supplement that complimented my diet, it was apparent there was a big lack of quality on the market. My quest to push the envelope in the vitamin industry and create a product that is truly wholesome and transparent is what drove me to start a line of supplements.”
Image Credit: Alicia Silverstone
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