The most powerful activism is consistent, rooted in love — and often quiet. Some of the most meaningful change happens through embodiment: what we wear, how we speak, how we shop, what we refuse to ignore, the inner work we do — and how we lead by example. When we do the inner work, we raise our personal frequency — and in doing so, we help elevate the collective vibration. That’s what I call the Quiet Revolution.
According to the University of Colorado, “Those who are most affected and have the fewest resources to adapt to climate change are also the least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions — both globally and within the United States.” Promoting climate justice is an incredibly important environmental responsibility that is slowly becoming more and more recognized. In this interview series, we are talking to leaders who are helping to promote sustainability and climate justice. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Candy Marx. Candy is a wellness entrepreneur, holistic health practitioner, and best-selling author, known for her early success on the international fashion circuit before making a values-led exit from the industry. She now merges her design roots with over a decade of experience in holistic healing, nutrition, and spiritual growth to offer organic loungewear and pure copperware — crafted to support holistic health and energetic alignment through symbolic imagery, healing materials, and ethically sourced natural fabrics.
A passionate advocate for the Earth, animals, and humanity, Candy has partnered with like-minded organizations and serves as an ambassador for conservation, wildlife rescue, and wellness initiatives.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I grew up on a small, self-sustaining organic farm where we grew nearly everything we ate. Most of my days were spent outdoors, immersed in nature and surrounded by animals. From a young age, I understood just how magnificent and sentient they are. Our pigs, chickens, and ducks had the sweetest personalities — just like our dogs.
Of course, life on a farm sometimes meant that those same animals became food. But to me, they were friends — and I didn’t want to eat my friends. I took animals off my plate entirely as a child. My mum soon began refusing to cook them too, and — much to his dismay — my dad had no choice but to leave them be. That marked the beginning of my journey into compassionate, conscious living.
Everyone has a cataclysmic moment or marker in their life which propels them to take certain actions, a “why”. What is your why?
My “why” is collective spiritual evolution. When we evolve spiritually, humanity and the Earth benefit too. True spiritual growth goes hand in hand with wellness, conservation, and humanitarianism. We can’t evolve if the Earth isn’t healthy — because we’re not separate from nature. We’re completely interconnected. When we care for the planet, we care for ourselves — and vice versa.
You are currently leading an organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change?
Our mission is to help people become holistically healthy — because when we’re well at that level, the Earth benefits too. I used to focus solely on animal welfare, but I realized I needed to think bigger in order to create lasting change. Holistic health and climate justice aren’t separate conversations — they’re deeply intertwined. When people are unwell or spiritually disconnected, they’re far less likely to care about environmental or humanitarian causes.
So I shifted my focus to helping people become holistically healthier — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually — which also helps them reconnect with nature because everything is interconnected. What’s toxic to us is also toxic to the Earth. We can’t sacrifice one for the other. When we prioritize our holistic health, the health of the Earth becomes a natural by-product. And vice versa.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
I’ve had the honour of collaborating with some truly incredible people and organizations, which has opened doors to amazing opportunities. But the most interesting part of the journey is what led me here in the first place.
I was already a long-term vegetarian — about 18 years — and had recently started practicing yoga and transitioned to a vegan lifestyle. Just a few months later, I experienced a profound spiritual awakening that involved direct contact with other-worldly Beings. Needless to say, it was life-changing.
At the time, I was at the height of my fashion career. I had shown at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, my designs had appeared on Australia’s Next Top Model, I’d won a prestigious Qantas Fashion Award, and two major US retailers were circling my brand following a show in New York. On paper, everything was aligning for greater commercial success.
But the spiritual encounter I had in April 2013 changed everything. It woke me up and pulled me back onto a path I hadn’t fully realized I was meant to walk. I knew I had to step away from fashion and move towards holistic health, spiritual growth, sustainability, and conscious living.
It wasn’t an easy decision. Stepping away at the peak of my career didn’t make sense to a lot of people — and the following year was especially challenging, financially and emotionally. But my gosh, it all happened exactly the way it was meant to.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
I’ve always had a few close friends and family members who’ve supported me from the very beginning — whether it was by liking and sharing my posts, buying my products, or simply reminding me to keep going. That kind of support matters more than people realize.
I’ve always been someone who learns best by doing. When I started in fashion, I saw the traditional path most people took — usually a long and arduous one — and I chose to approach it differently. I carved my own way and learned as I went. There were plenty of mistakes, but plenty of wins, too.
Although I’m inspired by many people, I’ve never had a formal mentor. I’ve always followed my intuition and heart — even when it didn’t make sense on paper. If something feels right, I go all in. It might not be the most logical approach, but it’s always been the most truthful one for me.
Thank you for that. Let’s now move to the central part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms so that everyone is on the same page. What does climate justice mean to you? How do we operationalize it?
To me, climate justice means everyone doing their part — without agenda, propaganda, or profit or power-driven motives. That includes corporations, the media, governments, and their agencies. Doing the right thing must override the pursuit of control and financial gain — especially when many of the institutions claiming to fight climate change are also the ones benefiting from the problem.
There are far too many conflicts of interest. The same organizations contributing to environmental destruction are often the ones positioning themselves as the solution — they create the problem, then offer the fix. But when addressing the issue threatens their profit or control, the cycle never truly ends. These power and profit-driven decisions have detrimental consequences — one of which is raising the cost of living and pushing the majority of people into survival mode.
When people are just trying to get by, they can’t always afford ethically made, sustainable, or healthier options — and often end up choosing cheaper, toxic alternatives. And when you’re in survival mode, you’re not thinking about causes or environmental impact — and I don’t blame them for that. The system is designed that way. And that cycle needs to be broken — from the top down.
We also see this contradiction play out in harmful conservation management practices. Governments roll out blanket poisoning and culling programs that may target one species but end up killing everything that comes into contact with them — including predators, scavengers, and entire ecosystems. It’s a strategy that destroys the environment in the name of protecting it — and it makes zero sense.
Then there are proposals that claim to save the planet but are anything but — like promoting fake food and blocking out the sun. These actions aren’t rooted in regeneration; they’re driven by control and profit. Blocking sunlight would devastate ecosystems and human health. And conveniently, the same organizations behind these ideas would then profit from synthetic food, genetically engineered seeds designed to grow in a sunless environment, and the supplements or medications needed to manage the problems they’ve created.
Plastic is another example. It’s killing wildlife and is now in the food chain, slowly harming human health. Yet many corporations refuse to let it go because they profit from selling the fossil fuel by-products that make plastic possible. The same applies to glyphosate (Roundup), PFAs (the ‘forever chemicals’ used in waterproofing), and geoengineering projects that spray toxic chemicals into the sky. These technologies — often dismissed as conspiracies under the label chemtrails — are, in reality, cloud-seeding and weather modification programs that worsen the problem. Once again, they’re marketed as solutions while quietly generating massive profit and consolidating control.
So, to answer the question: climate justice is about everyone doing the right thing at a holistic level — especially those in positions of power. It means holding corporations and institutions accountable with real, unbiased consequences. When profit and power are no longer the priority, the cost of living will come down, and people will be able to afford ethical, sustainable choices. And maybe then, we’ll finally stop poisoning the planet.
Science is telling us that we have 7–10 years to make critical decisions about climate change. What are three things you or your organization are doing to help?
I’m not sure which studies you’re referring to exactly, so I can’t comment on that specific timeline — but we absolutely need to make changes, and urgently.
Professionally, my company only offers ethical and sustainable products and services that support holistic health. All of our clothing is made from 100% organic cotton and eco-dyes, and produced in a renewable factory. Our other products are crafted from healing metals, hand-made in small batches by skilled artisans. It does cost more to manufacture this way, but these materials are far better for our holistic wellbeing — they help elevate our energy field rather than suppress it (like most conventional fabrics). And don’t even get me started on the non-organic and plastic-based textiles dominating most department stores. We’re proudly plastic-free and actively support both conservation and humanitarian organizations.
Personally, I support local and small businesses — especially those that prioritize health, ethics, and sustainability. I eat a mostly organic, plant-based/vegan diet and make a conscious effort to purchase organic and ethically made goods wherever possible — including household cleaners. It all comes back to us — because the cheap stuff is toxic to both our bodies and the Earth. When we care for ourselves holistically, the Earth benefits too.
I also pick up litter — especially while free-diving, where I often find discarded fishing lines and hooks. Fishermen need to be held accountable for this kind of pollution. I always help wildlife when I can, particularly bees. I feed tired or hungry bees using local raw honey (yes, I keep some in the pantry just for them!) and I’ve created a bee-safe garden with plenty of flowers, no pesticides, and native bee homes. Native bees moved in and laid brood within hours of me hanging the homes — and I’m excited to see them hatch in the spring.
That said, what I do at a personal and professional level is minuscule compared to the damage caused by corporations and certain government agencies. The greatest responsibility lies with those in power — and they need to lead by example.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you in your mission?
- Politicians need to speak the truth — regardless of the consequences or who funds them. Political agendas have overridden common sense and genuine problem-solving for far too long. That needs to stop. So, to the politicians: please stop shielding your inhumane and unethical financiers — stop taking their money! Just fix things. Do the right thing — even when it’s inconvenient.
- Society can support small and local businesses — especially those prioritizing health, ethics, and sustainability, like my super cool company <laughs>. Choose organic, local, ethically made, and sustainable options where possible. Every purchase is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in.
- Be a friend to nature. Create bee-friendly gardens, plant flowers, hang bee homes, and leave shallow dishes of water for wildlife. But more importantly, we need to stop believing we’re separate from nature — because we are nature. Helping isn’t interfering. What we do to nature, we do to ourselves.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
People can see through marketing gimmicks. If a company isn’t authentic or is purely profit-driven, it shows. The brands that genuinely care about their environmental impact — and about human health — stand out. Like-minded people naturally gravitate toward them, and word-of-mouth does the rest.
It’s also important for consumers to see who’s at the helm and what their values are. If the CEO or Director isn’t walking the talk, people notice. Authenticity starts at the top. Without it, there’s a disconnect — and people feel it.
That’s why I believe it ultimately comes back to spiritual growth and intuition — as well as authenticity and transparency. When we do the right thing — when we listen to our inner voice and stay aligned with our values — things fall into place. It may not happen overnight, and the path may need refining, but consistency is key. Stay with it, and the results will come.
My own shift from fashion to holistic health and conservation is a good example. I didn’t make the change because it was strategic — I made it because it felt right. And while there were stressful moments, especially when I forgot to trust the process, everything eventually aligned.
I’ve also seen firsthand how authenticity makes or breaks a brand. I once collaborated with a brand that I quickly walked away from because the owner wasn’t transparent — he even hid his identity. And while the product itself was decent, if you can’t be transparent, it usually means you’re hiding something. People pick up on that.
In contrast, I later partnered with a brand that was completely open and honest. They answered every question without hesitation, and their product is next level. Their energy and presence are high-vibe, and people naturally gravitate towards them (shout out to Nature’s Farmer Sea). That’s the difference: you are your brand. If you’re honest, authentic, vibing high — and if you truly love and believe in what you do — transparency is automatic and you’ll naturally attract the right clientele. Energy is everything, so find your niche and be the energy you want to attract.
This is the signature question we ask in most of our interviews. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started promoting sustainability and climate justice” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
- It’s not just about the planet — it’s about people’s health, too. When I began this journey, I was focused on environmental impact: the forests, the oceans, the animals. But I quickly realized that sustainability and climate justice are also about social systems and who can afford to live ethically, eat healthy, and who pays the real cost of cheap, fast systems. If we focus only on environmental impact, we’re not seeing the whole picture. True sustainability has to be holistic.
- Not everyone will understand, or want to. I used to think sharing facts and heartfelt stories would inspire everyone. But some people are deeply resistant because shifting perspective means disrupting comfort. And they double down if that means having to change their lifestyles. But I believe that it comes back to disconnection, and being spiritually disconnected. It’s impossible to be spiritually connected and not care about the Earth. Reconnection is key.
- Sustainability is a lifelong direction. There’s no such thing as a zero-impact lifestyle. It’s not about achieving immediate perfection, but continuing to evolve. We take one conscious step, and it reveals ten more. It’s layered, humbling, and ongoing. But when we all commit to the direction, not the perfection, real change happens. Many hands make light work.
- Your values will be tested. I’ve seen influencers, public figures (including spiritual and wellness figures), and brands greenwash their messaging or pivot for profit. But this work calls for integrity — especially when no one’s watching. The real test is staying aligned even when it would be easier (and more profitable) not to.
- The most powerful activism is consistent, rooted in love — and often quiet. Some of the most meaningful change happens through embodiment: what we wear, how we speak, how we shop, what we refuse to ignore, the inner work we do — and how we lead by example. When we do the inner work, we raise our personal frequency — and in doing so, we help elevate the collective vibration. That’s what I call the Quiet Revolution.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I’m deeply inspired by people who genuinely work to make the world a better place — whether through helping people, animals, or the Earth. It’s hard to narrow it down, but off the top of my head, the few incredible souls come to mind are:
- Ocean Ramsey for her beautiful conservation work and the loving energy she embodies.
- Gregg Braden and Dr. Bruce Lipton for their loving contributions to humanity’s healing, consciousness, and spiritual evolution.
- Tony Robbins for the powerful work he does helping people break through limitations, heal, and rise.
- Radhi Devlukia for her fun-loving approach to holistic health and for empowering others to believe in their own self-healing.
- Suzy Amis Cameron (who also kindly contributed to my book), for her gentle yet impactful work in sustainability, plant-based living, and environmental advocacy.
- Dr. Zach Bush for his heart-centered approach to health, regenerative living, and reconnecting humans with nature.
- Teresa Palmer for her soft yet strong voice in promoting veganism, sustainability, and human connection — especially in honouring women and mothers.
There are so many more who shine and help raise the collective. But I’ll wrap my list up here — for now.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
I’m active on Instagram @iamcandymarx, and you can also connect with me through my website www.candymarx.com
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
How Author Candy Marx Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.