The Nutritionist Reshaping the Fashion Industry
BY Sarah Ann Macklin for Because Magazine
The beginning of my journey with nutrition, the fashion industry and mental health, can be traced back to when I was scouted and signed to a modelling agency at 15 years old.
It wasn’t until I was 18 that I began to focus solely on modelling – a decision backed by my parents, which I’ll forever thank them for – and, once my birthday came around, my first job took me to LA. I went on to live in New York for a stint. Coming from a town out ‘in the sticks’ of Hampshire, this opportunity was an absolute dream, however, it was while in the Big Apple that I was first exposed to the many sides of modelling that were far from glamorous.
Erratic eating behaviours and mental health problems were common amongst very young girls, who were thrown into a lifestyle in which they had to grow up quickly – and without the guidance that they needed. It was at that point that I began to question where their (and my) support system was.
“Erratic eating behaviours and mental health problems were common amongst very young girls, who were thrown into a lifestyle in which they had to grow up quickly.”
Sarah Ann Macklin, Founder
Instagram launched in tandem with that period; with it, came a succession of food ‘grams and supposed ‘superfood’ green juices from the first wave of social media influencers. What really bothered me was that the people giving advice weren’t qualified in any way, shape or form.
I decided that I wanted to make a positive change in the fashion world, and so I enrolled on a BSc human nutrition degree recognised by the regulatory body Association of Nutrition, and became an associate registered nutritionist; I wanted to encourage and open a conversation around nutrition in the modelling industry. Fast-forward a few years and the Be Well Collective was born.
At first, people around me were sceptical about the thought of mixing the biochemistry aspect of nutrition with fashion, but I can safely say now that I proved them wrong! There’s a real interest in the science behind wellness.