Many of you may know Cornelia Guest as the recent face of PETA’s I’d Rather Go Naked campaign. Cornelia is an animal lover and has been has been since she was a child. Her passion for animals and nature weaves its way into her daily life and guides the choices she makes when it comes to her philanthropy and business life.
In addition to running her catering and cookie companies, Cornelia Guest Events and Cornelia Guest Cookies, she currently has a line of cruelty-free bags available at Bloomingdale’s (They are GORGEOUS!). Cornelia is also developing a line of jewelry, wallets and dog accessories.
For the months of May, June & July, CompassionCoture.com has added a page dedicated to Cornelia Guest’s picks from their site! By teaming up with online retailer CompassionCouture.com, a portion of proceeds from purchases of Cornelia Guest’s favorite cruelty-free and eco-friendly handbag, shoe and accessory picks will go directly towards Farm Sanctuary, a non-profit organization supporting animal rescue, education & advocacy. Check out Cornelia’s “Picks For a Cause” here!
I am pleased to introduce you to Cornelia Guest…
CHIC VEGAN – I understand that you are a vegetarian who tries to be vegan as much as possible. What motivated you to try to go vegan?
CG – I had been Vegetarian on and off for years. Then my mother got sick so I started to read, read, & read. Between the health aspects & the incredibly inhumane treatment to animals, I stopped.
CV – Tell me a little bit about your cruelty-free handbag line and what inspired you to design it.
CG – It’s important to me to give people an intelligent alternative that’s affordable & accessible. I am inspired to give people a way to live in a humane, cruelty free way at a good price.
CV – I heard a rumor that you have a book coming out very soon. What is the book about?
CG – Yes! My book, Simple Pleasures, (Weinstein Company, June 2012) includes original recipes, decorating and party tips, and photos from throughout my life.
CV – You are a very busy lady. In addition to designing handbags and writing you also own a catering company and sell vegan cookies (a portion of which benefit the Humane Society). When and why did you decide to open a catering company?
CG – The catering company isn’t Vegan, but we do specialize in Vegan, and I always suggest meat alternatives. And I won’t ever serve Veal or baby Lamb. My friends started asking me to do parties for them. I launched the company in 2009.
CV – Walk me through a day in your life.
CG – My Newfoundland puppy, Cash wakes me up when he wants to go out which is generally around 545, which is fine as I’m an early bird! Off we go to the park with Olive, my little West Highland Terrier. She’s a year and a half.
I go to pilates at 8 every morning and the dogs come too. Then home + get ready for the day….I go to my office..work. If I don’t have to go out afterwards, I’ll go home make dinner, take the dogs out and in bed we all go to read and poop out!!
CV – What do you typically eat in the span of a day and are you a snacker?
CG – I have Dr. Frank Lipman’s “Sustain” protein shake w/some different powders & greens added. After a workout I’ll have some coconut water & raw coconut. I love coconut! For lunch depends how hungry I am, if I’m craving protein some tempeh w/veggies or a salad, maybe some raw dark chocolate & dinner salad & veggies.
CV – What is your favorite vegan indulgence?
CG – Without a doubt, Dark Chocolate…Fine & Raw Sea Salt is my favorite.
CV – When people learn that you are vegetarian leaning toward veganism, what is the #1 question they ask?
CG – They ask where I get my protein?
CV – What vegan product could you not live without?
CG – Fine & Raw chocolate & coconuts! And a great glass of red wine or champagne!
CV – In your wildest dreams what will your life look like in 5 years?
CG – The Cornelia Guest brand is global with many humane, cruelty free, accessible products for the world. I am letting people know there is a better way for us to live, a more humane way. And I am living on a farm with all my critters – my animal sanctuary!
Image of Cornelia courtesy of Bruce Weber