#MOTHERMUSE: Carla Oates

To coincide with International Women’s Day, We had the privilege of interviewing Carla Oates. The female founder of the Beauty Chef and someone I have greatly admired and been inspired by for a very long time. ⁠

Can you describe the joy of womanhood?   

Womanhood means different things to different people. For me it’s about tapping into my feminine energy, which makes me feel strong and empowered alongside my maternal instinct as a nurturer and nourisher – both of which bring me a lot of joy. 

How has your definition of beauty changed over time? What does beauty mean to you now? 

I learned many years ago that looking after your skin properly is an inside job from my own experience with eczema. After coming to this realisation many years ago, I decided to make it my mission to help change the paradigm in the beauty industry and help educate women on how to look after their skin in a healthier and more holistic way. 

Ageing is a privilege, how has your perspective on life changed through the years?  

As I have grown older, I’m really enjoying that I’m not as worried about what other people think as I did when I was younger. This is very liberating! I’m also much more focused on getting rid of the noise and focusing on things that bring me true joy - relationships with family and friends, connection with nature and exploring my creativity. 

If you could pass on some knowledge to your younger self, what would it be? 

Look after your gut, be gutsy and follow your gut instinct.  

What brings you joy? 

Feeling connected to the things I love brings me joy – to my family, my friends, to nature and to my work and creativity.