5 names to start following today
Words: Maria Martinho
Francisca, Bárbara, Salomé, Maria and Helena use social media every day to share their healthy lifestyles and environmentally conscious and responsible choices. Their vision of the world makes them true digital activists, inspiring their communities to make the world a better place.
Francisca Costa
@franciscamcosta
A passion for social impact and making the world a better place entered Francisca Costa’s life when she started studying law at university. However, her interest in sustainability came later when she took part in a European exchange programme in a remote village in Slovakia. “During this experience, I used indigenous Australian methods to develop a social inclusion arts project while introducing participants to permaculture practices. It was there that I became aware of the increasing separation of cities from nature and the resulting environmental impact”.
After that trip, she started looking for that connection, researching more about how she could help reduce her environmental impact while contributing to a fairer and more balanced society. “In 2020, I started a blog and Instagram page about travel, where I shared tips about affordable travel. Over time, I realised that this type of content didn’t fit with my need to make people aware of the effects of the climate crisis, so I gradually moved away from travel content and created more content that was focused on the social and environmental impact”.
Much of the data she shares with her community comes from her Master’s degree in sustainability and public policy. Her thesis focused on the development of the circular economy in Portugal, and today she believes it is impossible to talk about sustainability without basing it on science. Those who follow her ask about sustainable products, how to reduce their individual footprint on a daily basis and how social movements relate to the climate crisis.
“The most urgent, challenging and transformative thing we can do is to question the system under which we live, one based on infinite economic growth and which puts profit before the wellbeing of people and the planet”. A nonconformist and curious activist, Francisca Costa is a supporter of green transport, reduced meat consumption and finds in Trás-os-Montes, where she has her roots, her escape from the fast pace of the capital and where she can reconnect with the land. “I am guided by the sun, which reflects the energy I want to spread in the world, especially after having lived in countries with little light. This is the light I want to absorb and transmit every day, co-creating utopias for the more just and sustainable world in which I believe. Many studies show that spending time in nature helps reduce ecological anxiety, so there’s nothing better than spending a few days away from the hustle and bustle of the city to breathe in the fresh air, walk in the forest, build a fire to keep warm, enjoy the silence and meditate”.
Bárbara Koehler
@babakoehler
A year ago, Bárbara discovered her love of running, having previously spent much of her time outdoors surfing with her boyfriend or cycling through the mountains and forests of the Portuguese countryside. “Being in constant contact with nature has become an essential part of my daily life and has had a huge impact on my physical and mental wellbeing. I’ve developed a desire to preserve and cherish this feeling, as if it were a precious asset that could be taken away from us at any moment”.
Swapping a hotel for a hostel, using the same bath towel several times, or consuming seasonal and local ingredients were the first behaviours she adopted with her commitment to protecting the environment through small daily choices. On her social networks she talks about sport, wellbeing, nutrition and healthy living, offering her followers a positive influence through simple, informed attitudes that promote physical and mental health. “Through social media, I’m asked for my opinion on products or services, how to implement certain practices, training tips related to running, recipe suggestions and questions about my experiences, like the yoga course I did in Sri Lanka”.
Bárbara often works with brands, particularly Portuguese brands, and feels they are increasingly aware of and sensitive to environmental issues, such as saving resources, improving production methods and optimising raw materials. The influencer is also the face of Mutare, a brand she created, whose first product is sustainable and recyclable yoga mats made from cork and leftover shoes. “Brands, like influencers, have a responsibility to make everyone aware of this universe”.
Aware that the future comes fast and that real change takes time, Bárbara lists some of today’s most important and urgent challenges. “Drastically reducing carbon dioxide emissions by switching to renewable energies such as solar and wind power and phasing out the use of fossil fuels are, in my opinion, fundamental. Replacing fossil fuel-powered cars with electric vehicles and preserving natural ecosystems, such as forests and oceans, that absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide are important measures, especially in an increasingly consumerist society in which distances become shorter and everything becomes possible”.
Salomé Santos
@salomelss
At the age of 9, Salomé Santos entered a drawing competition on the topic of the environment, in which she illustrated the theme of renewable energy. She did so well that she won a bicycle. “My mother and some of my teachers had a great influence on my environmental awareness, but it was not until I was 16 that I began exploring the subject on my own. The impact of over-consumption and sustainability became recurring concerns in my choices”.
During her adolescence and into young adulthood she began recycling, stopped eating meat and became more aware of the environmental impact of meat consumption or the fashion industry, and gradually began influencing those around her. “I believe that I can have a positive influence on the people around me, encouraging them to make small but significant changes — whether it be within the family, at work, with close friends or in the digital community. There is a natural curiosity to try vegetarian dishes, to experiment with a different skincare product, to discover where I bought that reusable water bottle, which Portuguese brands I like best — and I’m really happy to see this growing interest and concern for sustainability”.
Her digital content is on Instagram, the “Ouro Sobre Azul” (Gold Over Blue) podcast and on YouTube, different platforms she uses to share her routines and where the urgency of sustainability is seen not as a trend or a fad, but is translated into concrete daily lifestyle activities.
A communicator who is curious and discreet, Salomé recently completed a postgraduate degree in sustainable development thanks to her curiosity and interest in following studies on the evolution of sustainable mosaics and the circular economy and analysed the behaviour and the impact of brands and companies. “It is essential for sustainability to be considered a universal priority and not as a fad or a trend. Sustainability must be an overarching issue for every party, company and institution. Climate change is accelerating, so we need to take swift and effective action to protect our resources. It is increasingly important for us to restore our harmonious relationship with nature, to respect it and recognise we cannot survive without it”.
A fan of authenticity and transparency, the Viseu-born influencer feels privileged to have grown up outdoors and to have seen produce grow directly from the soil. “I learned to love water, and today there are few things that calm me as much as a rainy day or being near a river, the sea or a waterfall. Fire reminds me of the fireplace in my parents’ house and my childhood, of barbecues at home with friends and delicious food cooked over an open fire. Each element plays an important role in my life”.
Maria Melo Falcão
@mariamelofalcao
When she went vegan to avoid animal exploitation, Maria Melo Falcão discovered she had a whole new universe to explore. “I soon began to realise the benefits of this choice on my health as well as the environmental impact of this change. This discovery was incredible. At first, I was constantly realising new things, and through food I brought that enthusiasm to everyone around me”.
She swapped dance for the digital world and the desire to communicate what had really changed her, sharing all the knowledge she had acquired in an app she created. “There’s still a lot of ignorance about plant-based food and physical exercise. The internet and the media often make things more confusing, even exploiting contradictory information. That’s why I created the ‘Contigo’ (With You) app, a guide for those seeking change, looking to get out of their comfort zone”.
Eating a plant-based diet, composting or avoiding waste in the kitchen, preserving food better and reusing all parts of vegetables are just some of the tips Maria practices and shares, always focusing on what we eat to change the world. “Food has a huge impact on the environment. We eat four meals a day; that’s 1,460 a year. If just one of them takes this into account, that’s already a big change”.
Maria has always lived in cities, but from a young age, she felt that it was only in the middle of nature that she could connect, be more calm and free. “I think it’s possible to find a balance and bring nature into the cities. Having a vegetable garden on the balcony, spending more time walking or cycling and being outdoors more often are some simple examples of a combination that is both possible and positive”.
Helena Martins
@helenamartins___
Documentaries, books, articles, reports and online discussions helped Helena Martins realise the importance of her attitudes towards the environment. “It was a gradual process for me. I can’t pinpoint a moment that caused this change, but going digital was undoubtedly crucial. Through it, I was exposed to a series of environmental problems that made me think more deeply about our impact on the planet. This constant contact with different perspectives has helped me understand the urgency of these issues”. Recycling, something she learned at school, was the first step towards a more ecological and conscious lifestyle. “I realised that while it’s a simple action, it can have a very significant effect”.
Her journey into the digital world began with the creation of the “Fashion Mask” blog, which was born out of a desire to express her creativity and share her passions, such as fashion, and which she still updates regularly. “I was very consumerist when I started out in the digital world — the complete opposite of what I am today. As time went on, I became more interested in the fashion industry, and at the same time I realised its challenges and negative impacts. This was a turning point for me. So I decided to share my journey on my social networks, hoping to inspire my audience. I believe that the more people get involved and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, the better. However, it’s important to be aware of the problem of greenwashing, which has become increasingly common and concerning. This shows that there is still a lot of work to be done”.
Helena never tires of researching current ecological and environmental issues, and believes that protecting nature and the planet starts in school. Passionate about fashion, she uses social media to encourage people to consume in a more responsible and conscious way, buying second-hand or reusing items. “I feel that Portuguese brands are investing more in sustainability, which is encouraging. However, it’s important to remember that the ‘Made in Portugal’ label does not guarantee the product has been made in a sustainable way, and although we have laws that protect workers’ rights, the application of these laws can be arguable, and that concerns me”.
