Supermodel Grace Mahary Is on a Mission to Empower the Powerless

You all know Grace Mahary as a high-profile model who has graced the high-end runways and glossy covers you all know and love. But when she’s not putting her best fashion face forward, the model is blazing her own trail and using her influence for good as a global activist.

It all started in 2012 when Mahary was visiting her parents’ homeland in Eritrea, Africa for the first time and one thing was immediately clear: their limited access to power. Mahary was struck by the significant volume of people who lived there without access to electricity, something we all take for granted in the west. Eager to find a solution, she launched Project Tsehigh, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a sustainable energy infrastructure.

But building a non-profit is no mean feat. Mahary had no idea where to start but armed with a strong will and a mission to empower the powerless, she put one foot in front of the other and pushed fear to the side to add the “non-profit founder” hyphen to her name—and she hasn’t looked back.  

In honor of International Women’s Day, we partnered with our friends at PAIGE to put the spotlight on five incredible women who are marching to the beat of their own drum and walking it forward with an outstretched hand bringing the rest of us along for the ride. 

So, read on to learn more about Mahary’s journey from supermodel to activist, how she built a non-profit from scratch, and her advice for boldly walking the road less traveled, too.

CREATE & CULTIVATE: Can you take us back to that "lightbulb" moment? What challenges have you faced in building a non-profit?

GRACE MAHARY: As a former athlete, my first thought upon visiting Eritrea was to provide sports equipment to students who were training. But the constant power outages curbed that thought and forced me to think about the greater population and ways in which we could help sustainably develop basic infrastructure. From not being able to charge or turn on my phone to using candlelight to walk down roads, to drinking warm sodas at restaurants, to inhaling thick, dark exhaust from diesel generators, it was a collection of these moments that brought me to creating Project Tsehigh.

Listing my challenges feels like an endless task, but let’s just say, building a nonprofit isn’t easy. I wasn’t sure how to start so I immersed myself in resources (shout out to the Foundation Center in New York) that provided information surrounding all aspects of creating a nonprofit organization. I also asked friends involved in the NGO world and the more material I gathered, the more the confidence I grew to start building. Fear is a creature of the mind, and to battle my fears, I started speaking about the project aloud. That was the first true step, putting the concept out there so that I had no choice but to put it into action.

Over the past few years, you have worked to provide the people of Maaya, a southern village two hours from the capital of Asmara, with solar panels and sustainable solutions to the issue. How has the community responded to this?

The community was elated once we arrived as they had been expecting us for a year while we were developing and fundraising for the project. Tesfai, a community leader, and his wife expressed their gratitude as they could use their donated solar energy unit to power lights and devices in their shop. Russom, a resident of the neighboring town with electricity access, was happy that his younger brother, Yonas, in Maaya no longer needed to walk over two hours to charge his phone.

It was an incredibly moving experience to be able to launch this initiative in my parents’ home country. The Eritrean people are compassionate and dedicated workers; the residents of Maaya were extremely involved with this program and have provided us with updates since project execution. We thank them for their patience and open hearts. 

What other projects are you working on? What is your longterm vision for Project Tsehigh?  

We recently completed a project in Tanzania providing solar energy to a primary school. The school has inspired us to approach our mission with multiple Sustainable Development Goals in mind as they support one another. Access to clean, affordable energy (SDG7), for example, can help teachers grow crops on campus through solar water pumps. Once harvested, these crops would serve as lunch for students, which aids in decreasing hunger (SDG2).

The long term vision of PjT is to empower global communities through clean energy and sustainable solutions. Our efforts are rooted in creating financial independence, sustainability education, and growth in the local economy of the regions we serve. We partner with local renewable energy companies to facilitate projects and ensure community involvement, and global enterprises to strengthen awareness and program reach. I am excited to continue collaborating with enthusiasts and newcomers alike in this vision, democratizing electricity access and quality of life. 

Your modeling career has provided you with a platform to promote causes you care about and create awareness for those who are marginalized. Can you share the ways in which you fused your fashion career as a model with your nonprofit?

I’ve leaned on friends in the fashion industry to support and share PjT’s story. It has been a really rewarding experience learning how to ask and realizing people want to help. My board members and I are constantly brainstorming on how we can create meaningful partnerships that help bridge the gaps between fashion/entertainment and renewable energy/sustainability. I hope to help diversify the clean energy and technology industry, making women and people of color especially welcome into this space. 

How we appear on the outside can impact how we feel on the inside. As a fashion icon, we look to you for style advice so, what do you wear to feel confident?

I love a blazer suit but if I was forced to live in jumpsuits for the rest of my life, I’d be confident in that too. Skirts and knee-high boots, lots of colors, sneakers and faded denim, a high heel and something oversized, a little black number, flared pants, and anything 70s—dressing for confidence really depends on the day.

How does clothing make you feel self-assured and ready to take on the world? Why?

My confidence is inspired by the ability to self-express. How you dress is a part of your self-expression and there’s nothing like stepping out for the day in love with your look, and yourself, and ready to rock.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s a reminder that every day we are more than enough and should celebrate our presence all year long. To truly honor women is to strive for equality amongst all women. Sharing opportunities, resources, or a platform for women of a different class, ethnicity, or ability is an inclusive way to celebrate one another. When we push for equal rights and opportunities for all women, we strengthen our collective presence and movement, making the celebration a whole lot sweeter.

You seem so bold and self-assured. What advice do you have for others who want to summon that courage too?

Thanks but I am learning how to show my vulnerability because therein lies the most courage. Plus, it shows folks that we are all human and capable.  

If the lack of courage is rooted in fear, remember that fear is a mental device; unless you’re in a jungle being chased by a lion, it isn’t necessarily useful towards navigating your everyday life. You can live your life wondering “what if?” or you can jump and live in the present moment. 

How do you shake off the fear and doubt to pursue your innovation/dream?

Because fear and doubt live in your mind, I am continually learning ways to change my perspective or outlook on life. Your physical state plays a big role in your mind so I try to prep my body with a healthy diet and exercise three to five mornings per week. I also make time to do things I love—discovering new wines, dancing, reading—so that I can approach my work with more intention. The next step for me is meditation, a practice I am newer at and excited to step into.

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to women starting out in your field?

You belong. Let the lack of visibility fuel you to dive into the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and be the change. Whether you’re an astronaut or a hairstylist, the use of technology has grown its arms into all industries making it a calling for more women to join the world of STEM. 

Click here to learn more about the other fearless women who are walking it forward this International Women’s Day.