Waking With . Sarah Ann Macklin
BY Qnola
Sarah Ann Macklin is a model on a mission. The fashion industry has come under fire in recent years for promoting underweight models and although attitudes are slowly changing, for many companies health and wellbeing isn't a priority. With that in mind, Sarah has been campaigning to introduce healthy vending machines within modelling agencies - replacing sugary, additive-filled snacks with more nourishing, wholesome products - including our Qnola! Alongside this and modelling full-time, Sarah studied for a degree in nutrition to allow her to help spread the word on the importance of health and wellbeing. We recently caught up with Sarah to hear more about her morning routine and future plans for her wellbeing initiative, the Be Well Collective.
"I have been modelling for 12 years, working with clients such as Burberry, Vogue, Dolce and Gabbana and Harper’s Bazaar. Whilst living in New York, I was fascinated by the rapid growth in the wellness sector; how engaged the city was and it spiked my already keen interest fitness and nutrition (the latter an area that up until recently has been so poorly adhered to within fashion).
Upon my return to London I enrolled in a HND through Oxford college to study Human Nutrition and gained a first class honours BSc in Human Nutrition at London Metropolitan, becoming a AfNr nutritionist.
Throughout my studies I wrote columns, articles and commented on features for Women’s Health UK, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Rake magazine. In 2017, I set up the Be Well Collective to help educate models and agencies within the fashion industry regarding nutrition. Each London Fashion Week season (February and September) I chair a series of talks on nutrition and general wellness with London’s primary model agencies.
Within the Be Well Collective I have collaborated with partners such as the London Meditation centre to speak alongside regarding mental health. This is the first time a qualified nutritionist has taken on an educational role on this scale within the heart of the fashion industry to promote wide-scale change.
In line with the Be Well Collective, I came up with the idea of curating vending machines within modelling agencies, which are so often full of junk food. Instead I replaced these unhealthy foods with nutritious and low sugar snacks.
My ultimate objective would be replacing all hospital vending machines with this healthy initiative; to give patients and relatives the option to nourish themselves whilst on the mend.