Eat, Nurture, & Live Glam!
This is MAED's mantra. MAED is an inclusive, accessible and diverse community for women who want to encounter each day mindfully, with balance, moderation and beauty. Whether you’re from one place or — like us — you’re a little bit of this and a little bit of that, whether superfoods are new to you or you’re a seasoned almond-milk maker, whether you run in sneakers or stilettos, you’ll find natural and alternative choices that improve your wellbeing. From style to practices to products, our discoveries encourage you to create change as you see fit.
The literal combination of our founder Denise Vasi’s daughter’s middle name (Mae) and Denise’s own nickname (D), MAED is also a nod to what makes a woman feel like she’s truly “made” it. It isn’t living a perfect life or being a perfect woman. It’s being healthy and staying true to your values. In short: It’s being the best version of yourself that you can be.
About Denise Vasi
Hey! Hey! Hey! I’m the founder and editor in chief of MAED. In a certain sense, my path to MAED began at the age of 12, when I signed with Ford Models and began appearing in magazines, like Elle and Marie Claire, and campaigns for global fashion and beauty brands. After transitioning to acting, I relocated from my native Brooklyn to Los Angeles, where I worked in film and television, including starring as Raquel in VH1’s “Single Ladies.” Two seasons into the series, I became pregnant. My daughter was born in February of 2015. The experience completely flipped the script.
As a model and actress, I had always paid attention to eating well and working out but now the stakes were higher. Motherhood is a 24/7 gig. There are no reshoots or stand-ins. Big life changes were triggered. I didn’t know that being a mother was so hard. I didn’t know that you could love anyone the way you love your child. I also didn’t know that I would take so much pride in my responsibilities as a mother. I was committed to raising my daughter as intentionally and naturally as possible. I began documenting my journey and our alternative choices via social media — from preparing plant-based clean meals and detoxing my home to hanging with my little one and making time for self-care. My followers’ DMs, tweets and comments soon made it clear: They wanted a permanent place to go for more info. So I created MAED.
