How Teresa Herrera-Anthony’s advocacy created a movement that brought people who shared the values of collective consciousness and sustainable practices.
This is an excerpt from Lifestyle Asia’s May 2023 Issue.
World-renowned fashion designer Christian Dior once said, “Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest.” Zest is precisely what Teresa Herrera-Anthony exudes as she speaks about her advocacy and her thoughts on beauty and wellness.
“I’m passionate about many things, among them, holistic well-being. I’m most passionate about the advocacy we started in 2007 called The Global Mala Project.”
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This was a movement that brought people who shared the values of collective consciousness, sustainable practices, and mindful living together. This one-of-a-kind event, last of which happened live back in 2018, served to bring together the global yoga community partnered with the advocacies of service and collective action, two causes very close to Herrera-Anthony’s heart.
On the The Global Mala website, it is described as “The Largest Unified Worldwide Yoga Event in history dedicated to promoting positive change in the world we’re living in today.” That she was able to spearhead preparations for this event and get the idea off the ground says a lot about how she not only succeeds but excels in projects that are close to her heart.
“I discovered yoga and meditation at the age of 19 when I was traveling around Asia working as a model. In the beginning, I just needed a form of physical exercise that I could do anywhere, anytime, with minimal gear involved. Yoga was perfect. With time, my practice grew and eventually I took a teacher training certification with my teacher, Shiva Rea, and then I began giving back to the community. I experienced the benefits of my practice and wanted to share this with the world,” she recounts.
The next Global Mala event is happening this September 2023, online instead of live for the safety of all participants. Save the Children is this event’s beneficiary. As proof of her sincere intent to give back to the community, the event is free of charge with donations to Save the Children entirely voluntary, but highly encouraged.
Herrera-Anthony is a gifted storyteller who has traversed various realms, including fashion, entertainment, art, and wellness. Originally from Los Angeles and the Philippines, this Manila-based beauty has made a name for herself as a model, actor, television host, and art consultant, effortlessly donning many hats with style, passion, and humor.
Her professional journey began in the fashion industry, where she pursued modeling at the age of 17. By the time she was 19, she had graced the covers and pages of magazines like Harper’s Bazaar HK, Marie Claire HK, and Rogue Magazine (Philippines), as well as appearing in commercials throughout Asia. With her success as a model, she naturally transitioned into acting, starring in several hit Asian films, including the lead role in the cult favorite Black Mask 2.
Her comfort in front of the camera led her to become the face and host of Project Runway Philippines in 2007 and later as the host and executive producer of Runway TV Asia, a show she co-created with her sister Tina Herrera. Never one to shy away from new challenges, she heeded the call of the stage and appeared in notable productions such as Dogeaters, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, and most recently, Every Brilliant Thing, for which she received a Gawad Buhay Nomination for Best Female Lead Actress in 2019. She is reprising her role in Every Brilliant Thing this June 2023 at the Maybank performing arts theatre, Bonifacio Global city.
Throughout her life, she has achieved a balance between her personal passions and her professional career. She firmly believes in living a balanced life that encompasses holistic well-being, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and advocates for this approach.
Read more by purchasing a copy of the Lifestyle Asia May 2023 magazine via SariSari.shopping or select newsstands in National Bookstore and Fully Booked. Subscribe to the E-Magazine via Readly, Magzter, and Press Reader.
Photos by Kieran Punay of Kliq, Inc.
