All this week, we’re bringing you the bold and the beautiful as only Tonic can. Adding to our first set of 10, here is another list to blow your mind and warm your heart. Invariably, these inspirational individuals operate from the truth that no one person is too small to make a difference and that the best way to facilitate change is by taking action and sharing it with others. (Be sure to read 21-30, 11-20 and 1-10 too!)
40. Meghan McCain – The Maverick
Meghan McCain kicks ass. The peerless politico has gone up against seasoned talking heads like Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham. After the latter took a jab at McCain’s age and weight, the media savvy 24-year-old gracefully defended her curvy body and encouraged other young woman to do the same. Strangely enough, a year earlier, McCain spoke to the very same issue on her blog in response to someone handing her a business card for plastic surgery.
“I am proud of my curves and have always loved my fuller figure, as should every woman who is not a size zero. I want to be a positive role model for my little sister and all of the other young women who read my blog and help perpetuate a more positive image for women, regardless of their body size. I feel empowered to tell everyone that it’s important to maintain a healthy weight that works for them — not everyone is going to be model thin, nor should they expect to be. To every young girl reading this blog, it is inner beauty and happiness that makes a person beautiful, not a number on a scale.”
Even bolder is the modern McCain’s fervent support of the Republican Party — and her fearless challenging of it. She’s in unpopulated territory: Her progressive Republican beliefs are less than celebrated among her age set, and they make her somewhat of a pariah (read: threat) to the old school GOP. But regardless of where you stand in the landscape of American politics, it’s hard not to appreciate a bold intelligent and refreshing voice. Keep talking, because we’re listening.
39. Juan Mann – Free Hugs Campaign
Need a hug? Juan Mann did. In spring 2004, the Australian native was in a bad way. His family had become estranged and his fiancé left him. As he watched travelers return to the arms of their loved ones at the Sydney airport, his loneliness and disconnection grew. Then one night a friend persuaded him to come to a party. Mann felt out of place and like he had nothing to contribute. Later that evening, a complete stranger walked up to him and changed everything: She gave him a hug. The circumstances of his life remained exactly the same, but Juan no longer felt he had to face them alone. He knew what he needed to do next — return the favor.
After locating a high-traffic pedestrian area, Mann constructed a sign, advertising “Free Hugs” and set up shop. At first people ignored the unusual proposition but it only took one hug to launch the campaign. Mann explains, “The first person who stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one-year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling.”
Since that day, Juan remains dedicated to spreading the joy of connectivity through touch. Today, The Free Hugs movement spans the globe and he’s even written an e-book, an illustrated guide to Free Hugs. Mann’s father’s final words to him were, “You can’t change the world, but you can make a difference.” Apparently you can.
38. Linda Malamy – Supermodel
What could be more refreshing than a 4 foot 10 inch, 68-year-old fashion model in a youth-crazed 20-something obsessed society? Nothing. That must have been what Isaac Mizrahi was thinking when he cast Linda Malamy in Liz Claiborne’s spring 2009 ad campaign shot by Arthur Elgort. (Malamy genuinely refers to world-renowned photographer as “a nice old guy.”)
The former English teacher — pictured at left, in fabulous purple — and owner of Cabbages and Kings, a specialty shop in the old Barbizon hotel, took two personal days from her current job as a school administrator for the shoot. She may have yet another career ahead, “I have never had more fun — well I have fun living anyway, obviously. But it was the most delightful experience I’ve had. I keep telling them really how nice it was. Everything they did was pleasant. Every word they said to me, like ‘Would you mind?’… Would you mind? They could’ve said, ‘Move honey’… ‘Look how she holds the phone? So natural. Look how everything fits her?’ I mean, I’m 4’10. They could not be nicer.” Guaranteed this won’t be the last we see of Linda Malamy — fashion’s newest face.
37. Colin Wright
When I say “pirate,” you think “Johnny Depp,” right? Sure, before Somali pirates seized the Maersk Alabama and captured Richard Philips the U.S. cargo ship’s captain. Given the seemingly grave circumstances under which all the crewmen were brought to safety, the five-day standoff ended in nothing short of a miracle. Third mate Colin Wright played a significant role in the modern day escape. And while he humbly attributes his part to positive thinking and excellent training, we can’t help but notice a bit of fearless Hollywood heroism in the mix.
36. Matt Brown – Matt Brown’s Hollywood Abs 2000 (MBHAY2K)
Every now and then a little self-seeking yields selfless results. Years ago while working as a beach lifeguard in Florida, Matt Brown, 6’5″, complained to a co-worker, “For being such a tall guy, I can’t dunk a basketball.” Brown’s co-worker, who also happened to be a personal trainer, ominously directed him to the football stadium after work–he was determined to get Matt to dunk. But the dunking session was just the beginning. “For the rest of the summer we did these god-awful stadium workouts. But a bunch of people started to show up because they wanted to get in on this horrible, horrible exercise we were doing,” says Matt with a laugh.
The grueling workouts continued for two years, but in 2004, Brown had to move to New York City. He says, “I missed it so much that I started my own up here — to keep the spirit alive. And just like in Florida, a ton of people expressed interest and became extremely loyal to it. It continues to grow every year.”
MBHAY2K recently commenced its fifth session with this personal invitation from Brown:
“Tomorrow marks the opening day of Matt Brown’s Hollywood Abs 2000 (MBHAY2K). As I’ve mentioned before, our workouts this week and next week will be special “Amnesty” sessions, lighter than our normal routines, designed to ease you suckers into what I like to call “The Lifestyle.” Running will be slower, reps will be lighter and blackouts will be rarer. That said, I suggest you start hydrating NOW just to be on the safe side.”
Consider yourself warned. Until the days grow shorter, Brown will lead sessions every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (There are the occasional weekend sessions.) Anywhere from 20 to 30 people participate, but when it blistering hot, the numbers drop to 10 to 15. Matt explains, “The group meets at my apartment on Orchard Street in Lower East Side to drop off their things. Then we’ll run down to East River Park and from there we’ll either head down to the amphitheater for ab and core work. Or, we’ll go to the track on the other side of the park and do a track day, which is always really awful and almost pure cardio.”
With “2000″ in its title and such a loyal following, Brown should be raking in the dough — but he’s not. Nor does he have any interest to, “I have a genuine love of exercise and I love exercising with other people. That’s maybe one of the values that being a beach lifeguard instilled in me. Exercising with your friends creates an atmosphere that’s enjoyable for everyone and I wanted to bring that up here. Making people pay for it completely changes the dynamic. You’re not out there to have fun anymore; you’re out there to run a business. It’s just a fun time for anyone who wants to come out — and hurt a little bit with other likeminded individuals.”
When asked about his generous sensibility Brown chalks it up to nothing more than good old Southern hospitality, “My mom is the most hospitable person I’ve ever met. She’ll always go out of her way to do anything for anyone. That kind of spirit informed a lot of what I’m doing. I just love interacting with people, helping people, especially with respect to fitness.”
And for the record, Brown has a pretty mean dunk.
35. Annette Olivares — Locks of Love
With her fifth birthday approaching, Annette Olivares was thinking about a gift, but it wasn’t one she was hoping to receive, but rather giving. After visiting her 3-year old cousin in treatment for a rare kidney cancer found in children, Annette asked why the kids didn’t have any hair. She became so inquisitive that her mother, Lizeth, did some research and came across Locks of Love, an nonprofit that donates hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.
According to the Whittier Daily News, Annette couldn’t have been more thrilled sitting in the stylist’s seat. After the 10-inch ponytail came off, Annette said, “I like it.” Her mother on the other hand, wasn’t as happy to see her baby’s hair go, but stood by her daughter’s spectacularly big-hearted choice. Clearly there are no age limits for doing good in the world.
34. Ira Glass — Real Life Middleman
Truth is often stranger than fiction. It can also be funnier, sadder, darker, uglier, wilder, more hopeful, more inspiring and more depressing. You get the idea, which is the essence of “This American Life,” the Chicago Public Radio show that has millions of listeners and its own Showtime television spin-off. Ira Glass, the show’s oh-so-approachable, if not charmingly monotone host artfully delivers the fascinating bits of our lives we may otherwise never have the privilege of knowing. Most recently, he’s brought the radio show to 400 theaters across the U.S. with “This American Life–Live!” The successful satellite broadcast is back for an encore on May 7 because there’s always more to tell.
33. Billy the Kid — Pushing Perceptions
While casting Carter Smith’s film “Bugcrush,” casting director Jennifer Venditti, discovered Billy Price, an unrivaled 15-year-old. Known for challenging the beauty status quo, Venditti was so moved by the kid from Maine, she placed him as the subject of her first documentary, Billy the Kid. “He truly believes in himself and is not willing to change who he is to be accepted by others. Most adults I know can’t do that!” she said.
Billy’s troubled past and unusual outlook on life, make his adolescent journey all the more endearing and at times, disturbing to watch. “If you look in my eyes, you’ll see a kid who’s trying to be what he’ll never be.” Although his well beyond his year’s wisdom can be painful to watch, Billy’s particular, yet everyday pursuit of girls and rock and roll inspires. And, despite his frustrations at being misunderstood, he has some astute clarity about who he is: “I’m not black, I’m not white, foreign… just different in the mind — different brains, that’’s all.” Aren’t we all different in the brains?”
32. Stephanie Bernstein — To-Go Ware
Most of us are riding the canvas tote bag Nalgene train — and that’s great! But how many of can say we carry around stainless steel food containers and sustainable bamboo utensils in a holder fashioned from recycled plastic bottles? As I suspected.
In the late 90s Stephanie Bernstein grew leery of our culture’s ever-growing disposable mentality. With eco-conscious coffee mug carriers as her guide, the Solutionary took matters into her own hands and created To-Go Ware, a collection of reusable utensils and containers. And while a purely reusable and sustainable lifestyle may still feel extreme and challenging, its certainly one worth considering. To-Go Ware fan and environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill says this: “I do not use disposables because I do not believe our planet, our lives, or our future is disposable.”
31. Mbali Creazzo — Healer
A native of South Africa, healer Mbali Creazzo studied in London where she earned her post-graduate education in Integrative Medicine. Since coming to the United States, she’s touched the lives of many and utilizes traditional ancient methods to heal modern suffering, such as rootlessness and spiritual homelessness — the disconnection ailing much of the Western world.
Last fall one of Creazzo’s patient’s, Cami Walker, couldn’t escape the suffering and misery of Multiple Sclerosis, depression and unemployment. Mbali prescribed what some might consider radical: Give away 29 things in 29 days. Walker ignored the suggestion, until her pain became great enough. Cami started giving gifts and the relief was immediate. The prescription was so effective that Walker felt compelled to pass it along to others, and so the 29-Day Giving Challenge was born.
In less than a year, the community is over 4,000 strong. Walker and the 29 Gifts members are part of what they call a Giving Movement. Thanks to Creazzo and the practices of Ubuntu, a humanist philosophy focused on connectedness with others, we’ve been exposed to a powerful way of living that runs contrary to Western philosophy. Let the healing begin.