Meet Tamara McMahon and Shelby Moser, Anti-Body (Anti-Poverty) Founders

Sisters Tamara McMahon and Shelby Moser are the emanation of green girl power. After Tamara's fiancé unexpectedly passed away, the two turned what could have been despair into inspiration to do-good. The dynamic duo joined forces and co-founded Anti-Body, an all-natural, fair trade body-care company boasting paraben-free shower gels, bath fizzers and lip balms.

Delicious scents like lavender, lemongrass, petal and peppermint would already leave any bath and body product junkie happy, but one close look at the goodies' labels would also leave any conscious consumer ready to shop, drop and vote with their dollars. Fair trade shea and cocoa butter, fair trade olive oil, fair trade green tea and fair trade sugar all dot Anti-Body's ingredient lists revealing the company's larger purpose. This is hiring workers in developing countries to harvest these ingredients, creating sustainable and fair waged jobs where it's needed most--like war-torn Liberia, Africa.

How did you get into this line of work?

We wanted to begin a career that was conscientious of the environment and people. Fair trade seemed to be the answer to both criteria but we wanted to take it to another level. Rather than just chocolate or coffee, we wanted to create an everyday consumer good that people would want to buy again and again. The beauty of fair trade is that the customer doesn't even have to know why they should choose fair trade...once the purchase is made, fairness has been done.

What was your "a-ha" moment?

Our childhood friend (and Tamara's fiancé) was unexpectedly killed when we were only 26. We understood at that moment that life needed to matter and, somehow, needed to benefit others.

Who is your green hero?

Marty Coleman, co-founder of Sustainable World and Conscientious Projector, an economic justice program at All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena. She has used her life advocating for sustainable living and has used her urban garden and vegetable patch as an outdoor classroom to teach kindergarten students peacemaking and the importance of caring for the earth. We only hope to do half as much at her age!

What is your ultimate green goal?

To live our daily lives without exploiting others for our own happiness. Being able to afford a green home would be fab, too.

What is your motivation?

Knowing that we've combined our career, hobbies and passion to ensure that our lives are lived in fairness to others.

What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?

That our lifestyles and purchasing habits are good for the planet, people and primates. We believe that fair trade is the next "green."

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Being fair trade entrepreneurs requires a different means to an end. It can't just be about the profit. Educating your consumers to purchase with that same mentality--now, there lies the challenge.

What is the most rewarding?

Knowing that our way of doing business is not a charity, but the way it should be. Even though we sell beauty care products, Anti-Body is about more than just being skin deep.

Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?

It would have to be our business partner (Shelby's husband & Tamara's brother-in-law), Steven Moser. Friends since high school, we've learned to utilize each other's strengths...Steve's happens to be his brain. Mathematical and scientific in nature, he has the uncanny ability to comprehend just about anything and has an undying ambition to use it to break the confines of fair trade. He's formulated Anti-Body's products to be fair trade, natural and feel good.

What green thing do you do everyday?

Everyday we choose to not buy. When we do, we use our purchasing power to positively affect sustainability, both for people and the planet.

What do you wish you could do?

First, to engage the bystander to become a world changer. Second, to make enough time for ourselves to watch every episode of every BBC show available.

What is your biggest eco-sin?

We'd like to call it the curse of convenience. Everything is so available, making it too easy to forget "it's just not necessary."

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

We would erase "entitlement" and "apathy" from the dictionary!

What is your best green advice?

Don't take on the task of "giving up everything now," but rather, see each day as an opportunity for various changes. Realize that our choices have a lasting effect...and there are fair options out there--even fair trade wine!

Change Makers is series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.

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