Chloé Jo Berman is the Glamazon founder of the website GirlieGirlArmy.com. Chloé leads a virtual 'army' of loyal followers who share her passion for all things green, vegan, cruelty-free and glamorous. Chloé is a passionate and bold animal-rights advocate, vegan foodie and total glamazon woman with an eye for eco-conscious art and fashion. Chloé is well known for her vibrant, rebel trailblazer, personality. She is a thriving example of someone who lives, loves and shares her "Veggie Girl Power" life.
Girlie Girl Army: Veggie Girl Power, Indeed. I personally love Chloé's site. There is always something green-licious, thought-provoking and glamorous to peruse. Right now on GGA, you can read an interview with Alicia Silverstone, get a vegan recipe for Apple Dumplings, read about an Eco-Visionary Boutique and even get an "Adopt Me" update on animals in desperate need of a loving home. And Chloe's GGA archives are a virtual goldmine of veggie girl (and guy) topics and tips.
Chloé Gets Noticed. Chloé and her site have been featured on Good Morning America, Ecorazzi, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, Veg News and even the New York Times. This past June, Chloé was honored for her Philanthropic Accomplishments at the 2nd Annual Pay it Fashion Forward Event. Chloé was even voted Ethical Fashion Icon by Veg News Magazine in 2008.
VGP Interview. Ahead, Chloé discusses everything from green juice, Candle 79, what she tells her critics and her thoughts on being a "girls girl". Check out Chloé's Veggie Girl Power interview...
More on Girlie Girl Army. For the newbies. Chloé says, "We get the word on what’s hot before it hits your favorite indie magazine." The Girlie Girl Army is a crew of girls (and guys!) who heart cheap eco couture, pop culture, DIY living, and art happenstances. Your Glamazon Guide to Living is a weekly newsletter, blog, and destination site.
About The "Veggie Girl Power" Interview. This series celebrates female trailblazers who inspire us! Featured Ladies were chosen for their unstoppable "Veggie Girl Power", aka a female with experience, wisdom, creativity, skills, heart, worldliness, passion, grace, drive, dedication and personality! Each question is 'filed' under one of these VGP characteristics.
Veggie Girl Power Interview: Chloé Jo Berman
Q1. Name and 'title'.
Chloé Jo Berman, Glamazon Owner of GirlieGirlArmy.com - Your Green and Cruelty-Free Guide to Green Living.
Q2. DRIVE: Yawn, sunrise, what is the first food/drink you reach for to start your "Veggie Girl Power" day?
Chloé: Depends on my discipline that morning - some days I NEED a green tea.. others I go out and get a green juice, coconut water, or stick with water. Food - I try and do fruit only in the morning... but sometimes I fail miserably.
Q3. HEART: As a "Veggie Girl Power" trailblazer you inspire so many girls/women, who or what was your inspiration at the start of your journey to today?
Chloé: Perhaps it was growing up Orthodox Jewish, but I've always been very, very outspoken regarding injustices. We all have a responsibility to really make a difference, and when confronted with wrongdoing, to act tirelessly to create change. I get so frustrated when I see people (women particularly) who spend their lives looking for the perfect shoe or perfect shade of lipstick. REALLY?!! Ladies, we are the backbone of society, we have babies to feed, nations to help, animals to speak out for. I can't stand a weak woman. I digress! I started my veg-journey by hearing my biological clock tick the first time when I was 21. I decided to adopt a dog.. only to do the research and find out that on average 800 dogs and cats per state that get put down a day. I didn’t know it was the only ethical option to adopt. I fell in love with this dog, and became more opened to learning about animal rights. When my eyes were awakened, I could never turn back.
Q4. EXPERIENCE: When people ask you why you 'went VEG' what is your usual answer?
Chloé: That as Peter Singer says "In suffering, animals are our equals." That consuming diseased, tortured beasts is not for a goddess body like mine. That eating animals is worse than driving a Hummer and never recycling in terms of environmental impact. That they should watch EARTHLINGS or PEACEABLE KINGDOM and read SKINNY BITCH and THE CHINA STUDY. At this stage, I think anyone with half a heart who hears you say "FACTORY FARMING!" would get it. It's sad how often I have to explain what ACTUALLY goes down in factory farms to incredibly educated people - many of whom call themselves Eco experts. OY vey.
Q5. WORLDLINESS: Celebration dinner out, where do you go?
Chloé: Candle 79, of course! It's like a second home to me. The entire staff feel like family... plus it's only 10 blocks from my casa!
Q6. CREATIVITY: "You can judge a veggie girl by her beverage"...what are your favorite juice/smoothie recipes?
Chloé: I am a carrot juice OR all greens (no apple) juice gal. Not doing smoothies or juicing at home just yet because I'm waiting for a vitamix! (HINT HINT..) You can tell this veggie gal more by her favorite Stella boots! 😉
Q7. DEDICATION: Are there any foods or food brands that you simply couldn't live without?
Chloé: Food? Um, I'm a HUGE eater.. like I can out-eat your very fat Uncle in an eating contest. I'm obsessed with food - from the gourmet to lowbrow. I try and eat 80% raw, but as soon as NYC gets chilly.. I start craving miso soups and stews. I live for artichokes, hummus, tempeh, leeks, Dr. Cow raw cashew cheese, Me & Goji custom made cereals, Gabrielle Brick's "The One" raw chocolate bars (DIVINITY!!,) Field Roast "apple sage' sausages, quinoa, roasted squash and sweet potatoes, Organic Nectar's Vanilla Maple raw ice cream, salads with a million ingredients, Coconut waters, GTS kombuchas, Marys gone Crackers (get your flax on, ladies!), Papaya, Kiwi, cakes from Vegan Treats (in PA), cookies from Alison's Gourmet in CA, Chimichurri from Candle 79, coconut curry stew from Gobo, desserts from Pure Food & Wine, popcorn, ... the list goes on and on forever. I could stuff my face 24 hours a day and not mind. I'm not the fasting kind.
Q8. WISDOM: What is a favorite life tip or quote of wisdom that you have shared with the world?
Chloé: That you can live a fabulously exciting, glamorous, awe-inspiring sexy life AND be entirely ethical, and act always out of compassion and with heart. I am a girls girl and can't stand back-stabbing, jealous women. My mission has always been to really loyal to the people I love, and that karma has usually come back in delicious ways. Be a girls girl, act out of love. And NEVER be afraid to open your big mouth and sing out, Louise.
Q9. SKILLS: And equally important, what is one of your yummiest recipes you have shared with the world?
Chloé: Gosh girl.. my website is so full of recipes, I'd need a shovel to get myself out of my pile of favorites... but a few off the top...;
Pear Flax Muffins
Mercury Free Vegan Tuna Sandwich
Chai Tiramisu
Q10. PASSION: What is the one message that you try to project to your fans and those you inspire?
Chloé: I think I covered that above.
Q11. PERSONALITY: Who would you award the "Veggie Girl Power" label to? And what have you learned from them?
Chloé: This is a tough one... I think it would only be right to say the the Mother of Animal Rights movement (love or hate her); Ingrid Newkirk for her tireless tenacity and taking the punches as hard as she swings them. I love a tough cookie. Watching how she gets beat up in the press, and by so many members of our own community reminds me that even the most tireless activist can be disrespected. She always handles it with grace.
Other woman kicking ASS for the animals:
Rory Freedman (for Skinny Bitch which, let's all be honest, has changed our movement entirely forever)
Kathy Freston (for her beauty, intelligence, eloquence, elegance, and grace.. and for changing hearts and minds, world-over)
Samantha Ragsdale (the grand dame of 'Farm Sanctuary' - for teaching me that you never, ever stop working for the animals)
Emily Deschanel (who never for a second wavers in her devotion to her veganism, and bringing the message of peace and environmentalism to the mainstream in everything she does.)
Q12. GRACE: How do you respond to negative comments from critics, in real life or on the web?
Chloé: First I debate with them. I love to be right, but will accept when I'm wrong. I respond to every critical email I get. If the critics are being irrational or we can't agree to disagree respectfully, I say "SUCK IT" and carry on with my mission - which is to help animals.
Bonus Question: Yes or no-do you think veg*n diets will ever be the majority and not the minority?
Chloé: Gosh... I hope and pray. If I have anything to do with it, YES!
Did You Know?? Chloé's website has over 300,000 monthly readers who die for her tips n' tricks? Chloé says: www.girliegirlarmy.com was the first Eco-vegan site on the web 10 years ago. Obviously we want every veggie girl and boy (or veggie curious - believe it or not, half our list is made up of curious carnivores!) to read our blogs (and comment!) and join the mailing list. GirlieGirlArmy is your Glamazon Guide to Green Living; a call to arms for bad ass baby divas and head turning cougars, who want to save the planet from hacky sack and doom at the same time. Newbies, vegan vixens, the Mom next door, sexy emo boys, and anyone who wants to do their part without sacrificing their facials will heart our weekly newsletter and daily blog that give you tips on fashion, food, and fun – in the greenest way possible! “Sex in the City,” with brains and a pit bull.
You can follow Chloé on twitter as @GIRLIEGIRLARMY
website: Girlie Girl Army
The VGP Series Continues...Don't miss tomorrow's Veggie Girl Power interview with the amazing Erin McKenna of Babycakes NYC bakery!...
