Abigail O’Neill's Blog

Boycott BOTOX

 

Our daughters are looking at us. Okay, those of us without daughters, our very own eyes, they are looking at us. Through our own hearts, and in the mirror too. What are we seeing? Even more importantly what are we FEELING. In ourselves, in one another as women younger and older, and a great deal older. I’m including a couple of (no edits at all) phone snaps here, taken this Summer holidays fresh into the new decade of 2020 as my beautiful daughter Charlotte (25) and I enjoyed sunset by our magnesium plunge pool and steam room.

 

Enjoying late afternoon sunshine (which was still actually quite hot!) and a delicious simple platter of raw vegetables and berries, olives, raw chocolate, nuts and tahini dip. To make the tahini dip: tahini, water, lemon juice, salt and spices of your choice, olive oil. High raw, organic, antioxidant-rich skin/body foods right there!! Mmm so yum! It’s how I’ve nourished myself most of my life (of course with the abundance of nature, soo many plant based, unprocessed foods are available to us to enjoy). It’s also how Charlotte was raised, to take care of her body temple, respect her soul, and love her life.

 

So why the big, fancy, scary title to this blog post. Those who’ve followed my journey the last 10 years would know of my passion for everything 100% natural. Living in sync with NATURE, as much as I possibly can has been my obsession since I was only 13 years old and began to read ‘Health Books’ and practice preparing vegetarian/vegan/100% raw for my family as a young girl, then our own family all the way until now, with my youngest of 3 being 20 years old. I myself am 45 years old now. Neither my daughter or myself have ever used any botox, surgeries, and have hardly ever experienced a professional ‘facial’ as we do so many little pamper treatments ourselves at home using ingredients from the garden and fridge.

Y’know what I reckon? I reckon the cool cats of the next decade are going to be the un-touched by skin doctors persons that have lived and loved their lives enough to embrace the future and all it holds with love for themselves and others. That means those fine lines coming to rest on my forehead and cheeks too. I’m not saying do nothing. There’s wure plenty we can lovingly do for ourselves each day that’s more powerful overall in keeping us young and at our most vibrantly beautiful.

Looking forward to sharing more and more and more with you! In the meantime please, SKIP THE BOTOX, yep boycott it entirely especially if you’re younger than me! I recommend waiting until you’re over 60. By then they’re going to have some magnificent, non-toxic, incredible treatments out there that will be totally, 100% natural,won’t freeze your muscles and distort your personal ‘look’. You are more beautiful than you know, YOU yes you right now reading this!!! Please love your life, look at the ways you can love it more (this blog is a great start! see my Insta also for soo many more #abisbeautybible tips and videos) and try aligning yourself as closely as possible with nature! If given the chance, and I’m speaking from experience, nature will restore you to your best ever self, and you (and those who know you) won’t believe the results! xxx Love, Abigail

 

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How I Became A Swimwear Model @ 45

SO THIS JUST HAPPENED. THE ICONIC SUMMER SHOW 2019. DRUMROLLS. If it’s all gibberish to you The Iconic Summer Show happens to be one of the biggest fashion shows in Australia. With beautiful bodies clad in little tinsy bits of material that mean Aussie heatwaves and very long days to be spent at the beach! At precisely 1 minute and 24 seconds you can watch me here –> my elation at the thought that it was really me y’know. Walking on the runway and stuff. IN SWIMWEAR!!! Golly gosh. 

Sure I’ve posed in swimwear before here and there. As an Australian you’re always stripping off  before running to find a waterhole, it just get’s soo hot! Who could be bothered with clothes. As a surfer girl too, so you could say I’m very comfortable with being in my togs, I also really love spending time climbing waterfalls, leaping from the rocks above, my costumes either bigger or smaller I don’t really mind at all.

But this was sooo different! This was me in my own skin, walking down a world class fashion show runway. Something I’d only ever imagined could come true. Mostly, actually because I’m no ‘Spring chicken’ these days! Uh uh! I kid you not, regardless of whether my skin looks young (thank-you my Portuguese mumma + copious amounts of raw cacao) I’m halfway to 90 in fact! My last birthday I turned the big 40 plus 5, and isn’t that when models are supposed to be ‘all washed up’ retired, and hiding themselves from the sneaky angles of the catwalk camera!

Well not me it seems! I was selected (super kindly! thank-you incredible Nicolas) to be a part of an absolute ripper of a show. This was no usual strut. Ours was a privilege many top models have yet to experience! Why you say? Because, THE ICONIC just totally broke all previous rules re swimwear on runways (actually they’ve done it before), and humanity trumped big time.

The vibes backstage. Take a peak. I will never forget it, as long as I live. Compliments all round, dancing, celebrating, hugging, laughter all round, cheering for each other, no competition. Everyone happy because together we were representing something so much larger than ourselves, every single one was special. I remember thinking to myself. Wow. Our make up artists totally could be in this show! The people we were walking past, they could easily be in this show! The photographers, hotel staff, right across to everyone watching online, they could see totally see themselves on that runway and that was pretty cool! Imagining how nice it will be for the younger generation who can see that beauty is so varied and embraced in it’s expression. That uniqueness is attractive beyond measure. That people should celebrate their life and the lives of every precious soul around them! Every age, every colour, every dimension.

“Ours is a new and unprecedented era, unique, timeless, diverse and so rich in beauty, it’s beyond imagination. Such inclusion must be seen to be believed. We each are precious. Human. Relevant. Every life, a pin-up.”  Excerpt I wrote as one of #THEICONIChumans.

Special thanks to my incredible mother agency Silverfox MGMT for making such dreams come true this year, to be honest, there’s not many things I have left to tick off the list of my modelling journey!! Thank-you most wonderful Brigitte, thank-you lovely Roxanne! Again, much appreciation to THE ICONIC it was truly an honour walking in your show! ♡♡♡

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Abi’s Seaweed BODY WRAP

One of my 101 top secret 100% natural, organic BODY WRAPS I’ve used for years is now yours to enjoy!

One day I hope to create an #AbisBeautyBible beauty book that’s chockas full of all of these kinds of wonderful pamperings that you can do for yourself cheaply and effectively at home, but until then you absolutely MUST have this one, and yes, you read it right, it’s all about the seaweed! Yep good ol’ smelly, slimy, oh so green and rich in minerals, that are highly alkalising, restorative, toning, doing just about everything for your skin and body, bring it… SEAWEED!

This is a very uplifting, mood enhancing body mask. The reason it’s so effective is it helps to alkalise from the outside in. Of course, best when used in conjunction with a plant based (or mostly) diet, plenty of rest, lots of sunshine, hydration, exercise, leaving off those negative thoughts and habits, and exchanging them for happy mindset. You can read more about my love for these things here on my website, and also my Instagram where I tend to share more often (these busy days)!

But this treatment is a great start, because, firstly, you feel like a crazy green monster, and doesn’t that just change everything? I’m ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing) as I type this, because when I indulge in this ridiculous looking procedure at the beach I’m sure I must look rather terrifying to small children. It honestly boosts your confidence a lot, because without it you won’t begin in the first place. Seriously though you can easily do this at home over your bathtub, or shower, although it can be a bit messy. If you prefer to a wrap you can always just throw it all into a tub and soak as in my Sea of Blackness recipe shared previously.

Okay! Soo now for the magical ABI’S SEAWEED BODY WRAP recipe :

1 cup either kelp powdered, or very small granules style of kelp will work too (actually what I’ve used here in this batch pictured)
Water, beginning with 1/2 – 1 cup to mix, keep checking the consistency and add more water if needed as the kelp will swell
4 drops any essential oils of your choice, I love using pine, grapefruit in this one
Tablespoonful of each raw honey and olive oil

That’s it! Mix up healing, detoxifying, skin nurturing ingredients just before you are wanting to slather yourself like a cocoon in 15 – 30 minutes of mermaid heavenly bliss. Then, rinse the whole body off well, rubbing the skin as you go with a warm or cold invigorating shower, or plunge directly into the ocean if you’re doing this courageously at the seaside as I did! My fave, FEELS SOO AMAZING! Be sure to pop on warm clothes if the weather is cool afterwards.

Hope you love this as I do, let me know how you go! Wishing the best to all for the new year and decade ahead, 2020 here we come! xxx Abigail

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Ageism is Dead

#Ageism I pronounce thee dead. Not because thou art confronting or limiting – as we are far too clever for thee and have schemed about thy defeat and now stomp upon thine grave. No. Because in my own life I’ve seen so much INSPIRATION. Before me, ahead too. In every person I’ve been blessed to know – ageless – whether vivaciously youthful or filled with the wonderment of years, mischief and sparkle…I’ve discovered, it leaves us not. Thank-you my amazing and inspiring friends – TIMELESS – beautiful now and ever. Your soul was designed to be so – your life created for eternity. Stars. Shine on. Images from recent Elodie Jewellery campaign.

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This Moment

How does one attempt to translate ultimate bliss on a flat lifeless screen? It is a state I found myself experiencing last week in Bali as we discovered Tukad Cepung Waterfall. It was as if the Balinese had enhanced this glorious natural paradise, just for us!

< My daughter snapped quite this Natgeo worthy image of my reaction to finding raw cacao in this most beauteous place all in one time frame!!! I was thusly transcended to the heavenly realms, garden of Eden, exotica in a moment.

I’d say it was the happiest juncture of the last 3 of my 43 years to be sure. Soul release. I’ve been needing this holiday so much more desperately than even I knew. Mostly perhaps to enjoy all to myself the best female company ever…that of my amazing daughter Charlotte! (23) It doesn’t feel as though we are 20 years apart at all.

We trekked down steep uneven stairs, along cacao laced pathways, of course I stopped to pick one pod!

Walking on through sandy bottomed streams we found this beautiful place, where the light pierces through cracks in the jungle and huge rock chasms.

We stayed a while. Longer. Everything I was looking for was in this place.

As soon as we began walking back I wanted to turn around, discover it all over again. So thankful for such a moment in time. So thankful for you my darling Charly, beyond words you are precious to me, so inspiring, so strong, so kind, so real, so good, so true.

You are the kind of young woman I only ever dreamed you would become, only you have then exceeded all of my expectations.

You soar on girl. Life has dark, and light, and sadness, and beauty, and pain, and elation, and everything in between. Like the glorious spaces, here.

It’s all a mystery. But I thank God for evidential (this also so unexplainable?) mercies in life, through inspiration, through nature, through the blackness, still proving somehow to my heart that love will never fail.

 [image error]

 

 

 

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Catwalk Education

Beginning modelling in your 30s is by far my recommendation to anyone wanting to join the business. Oh that’s you? Ace! Because for one reason, most of us will have by then got our lives relatively ‘sorted’ by then. You know, discovered ourselves, our truest passions, perhaps started a family of our own, or hopefully found our true love. Then with some real life experience, you naturally arrive at this ‘more mature’ confident age bracket. So, as in my instance, modelling becomes more of an ‘add on’ to your life, rather than the be all and end all identity crisis if one does or doesn’t ‘make it’. Only one thing stands in your way.

Ageism. Ok two (in my case) country living, ok three, those gorgeous kids (if you have any – as I have). Because for me, I wanted our children growing up right out of the spotlight, here, near Byron Bay, living wild and free, with me and my hubby and chickens, and horses, waterfalls, waves, motorbikes, 4 rambling acres, fresh garden produce…and homemade bread overlooking mountain views.  Ahhh well. Suppose it is all about where your priorities lie regardless.

Wherever your personal ambitions, work hard, learn fast, and simply be the most wonderful version of yourself, you can be. Make sure love is still up there with your main priorities. Family. True connections to that which will endure the test of time and change. The rest will be happen if it’s meant to. Give compliments to other models at castings, see the beauty and talent in everyone you meet, be kind to every last person on the ‘team’. Always be professional, but real. Smile a lot. Go the extra mile. ♡♡

I regret nothing. The main thing I certainly don’t regret at all is that at age 16 I threw away a huge modelling contract with Chadwicks – Australia’s biggest agency at the time, who were discovering beauties like Elle Macpherson and Rachel Hunter. It’s funny as I reflect now maybe it’s been ‘meant to be’ after all when 16 years later (at 32) I was selected by Dallys Models, going on to sign with Chic Management in 2007. People often ask me how I ‘got into modelling’? It really just kind of happened, as a happy Mumma of three, living organically in the country I certainly wasn’t seeking it out. I did a little memoir photoshoot which was meant for my husband with photographer and friend Bryce Wegener, nothing too showy, just so he’d remember me at my best…I didn’t have modelling in mind at all, the rest is history. ♡

Sometimes I can’t help but note the attitude of some super-stunning older models, who’ve been around forever, you know, since they were little teen-e-boppers. Walking the top runways of the world, gracing covers. Being so very young, someone said ‘jump’ they said, ‘how high’? They’ve been so moulded and shaped by the industry to us ‘regular people’ sometimes they can seem a little out of touch with real life, or have missed much of what I feel I’ve been blessed to have realised. Many of these ‘fading beauties’ may even feel that their best years are over – come my age. This makes me sad for them.

I realise over and over again, that I’ve missed nothing really, by choosing to begin modelling older rather than younger. If anything I’ve gained everything, and have still so much yet to gain. Because, now at 43, the journey is still only at the beginning for me, if I want it to be.

♡♡♡ Abigail 

 

 

This Moment

How does one attempt to translate ultimate bliss on a flat lifeless screen? It is a state I found myself experiencing last week in Bali as we discovered Tukad Cepung Waterfall. It was as if the Balinese had enhanced this glorious natural paradise, just for us!

< My daughter snapped quite this Natgeo worthy image of my reaction to finding raw cacao in this most beauteous place all in one time frame!!! I was thusly transcended to the heavenly realms, garden of Eden, exotica in a moment.

I’d say it was the happiest juncture of the last 3 of my 43 years to be sure. Soul release. I’ve been needing this holiday so much more desperately than even I knew. Mostly perhaps to enjoy all to myself the best female company ever…that of my amazing daughter Charlotte! (23) It doesn’t feel as though we are 20 years apart at all.

We trekked down steep uneven stairs, along cacao laced pathways, of course I stopped to pick one pod!

Walking on through sandy bottomed streams we found this beautiful place, where the light pierces through cracks in the jungle and huge rock chasms.

We stayed a while. Longer. Everything I was looking for was in this place.

As soon as we began walking back I wanted to turn around, discover it all over again. So thankful for such a moment in time. So thankful for you my darling Charly, beyond words you are precious to me, so inspiring, so strong, so kind, so real, so good, so true.

You are the kind of young woman I only ever dreamed you would become, only you have then exceeded all of my expectations.

You soar on girl. Life has dark, and light, and sadness, and beauty, and pain, and elation, and everything in between. Like the glorious spaces, here.

It’s all a mystery. But I thank God for evidential (this also so unexplainable?) mercies in life, through inspiration, through nature, through the blackness, still proving somehow to my heart that love will never fail.

 

 

 

 

Skin is Smiling!

Skin is smiling! 

Dis-Ease For A (Good?) Cause

Who doesn’t feel a pain? Despair? Anxiety or depression? Whose skin hasn’t been marred? Who hasn’t felt the inconvenience of hormonal imbalances? Weight gain? Joints fusing together? Foggy headed-ness, and lack of co-ordination? Chronic health problems here there, everywhere?

I know, you know me to be the picture of health.

But to encourage those of you struggling today to regain their health, in your search, to learn all there is to learn about detoxification, plant based living, herbs, natural therapies, hydrotherapy, I write for you now. As I’m sipping lemon water with a pinch of celtic salt as the moon is setting over my beautiful valley view…it’s 5.30am …I’m buzzing. Actually I feel quite good this morning!

I thought I’d share with you some of the dis-eases or ailments I have personally endured, and risen from stronger, more informed, able to inspire and share over many years now, able to contribute to a better world by my experience.

Some of these sadly, I still feel in my body daily, maybe just like some of you reading this now. And hey…don’t presume to think if you haven’t had complicated health issues that you won’t. It’s a crazy toxic, auto-immune bustin’ world out there, and if you’re not already affected, sad news is you may quite possibly be next! Actually in talking to many people over the years, I’ve discovered that we’re experiencing an epidemic of ill-health, mental health, auto-immune conditions, though apparently ‘living longer’…that’s if one of the big 4 don’t cut us short. Medications are given out high, low, and like never before, almost half of children on pills for mental/physical issues before they’re 10, genetically modified foods (that taste like nothing) no wonder everyone hates fruit and vege’s…euphoric drug and alcohol abuse overkills and dependence. Everyone on a prescription pill. DIS-EASE on every front. Anyways…I won’t get started on all that now.

Ok starting in a nutshell from the beginning. Because learning from others experiences or mistakes is often better than learning from your own! Making positive changes in your own life from others tested and tried influence is also a great start in the right direction.

Sadly I was not breastfed – not even from day 1. Don’t downplay it. Read about it. If you have babies one day, please use your boobies as nature intended! I was immunised to the hilt. Again, you can disagree, but I believe routine immunisations to be damaging to a newborns / young child’s delicate immune system. That was 40 years ago these days it’s even worse, something like 200 by age 2 WT??! I was constipated through early – later childhood, so definite gut flora issues, and major dehydration I’m certain. We did eat many vegetarian meals growing up although I became a complete vegetarian at 13, actually I was vegan for the first time in my life. I started taking the pill for two years when I married my husband at 16. Look into that too, seriously ladies, don’t take the pill. Then, I had a massive allergic reaction to crop dusting leading to a week of welts head to toe on my body 17 yrs. At 21 I came down with a nasty case of glandular fever. It shot my immune system to pieces. Of everything, this was the turning point, downwards in my health, and I’ve never, ever been the same since. After having our 3rd child, at 24 my body couldn’t cope any more, I went all the way down, chronic fatigue. Candida, chronic joint pains, digestive disturbances, then the beginnings of arthritis, as well as skin issues – psoriasis to top it off. So low I’d crash every night about 7pm after long days of homeschooling, cooking, gardening, taking care of our precious little ones.

I knew a lot of good things by this time, read a lot, experienced some fasting success from very young – my first long fast being when I was only 14. Then as I grew up and had our young family I’d already been mostly plant based (apart from eggs, raw honey) and ever moving towards all organic produce, as we could afford. It’s hard. When you’ve gone right down to the bottom with your health, so hard, to pick it back up. Especially when many depend on you.

Since that time, I’ve experienced utterly devastating, life halting losses. Losing my beloved baby sister in 2015, my mother, only just last year. On top of this  struggling ever with keeping our home positive, healthy, well, through the worst we’ve ever experienced – crippling anxiety in an immediate family member.

Not so long ago, I went down with Rickettsia – a tick disease – almost as bad as Lyme, and that was honestly the worst I’ve ever felt in my life. It goes on. This is a world with no guarantees for brilliant health.

One thing I do know, sometimes, dis-ease can save you, for a (good?) cause! I don’t know if I would have been as devout to my health, or strict diet and lifestyle had I never been unwell. I know I wouldn’t have written my book – Model Chocolate with all it’s delicious, satisfying and nutritious SF DF GF healthy raw chocolate alternatives!

So don’t feel that I cannot relate to you. I feel more than ever that I can relate to almost anyone at all! Years will bring this kind of wisdom to you, especially if you love hard, and give away all you can along this crazy journey we call life.

If you’re not ok right now, please don’t despair. Be wise, read real books, search high and low, delving ever into nature’s mysteries, and you’ll find like I have that if you can sync yourself with her powers to rejuvenate and restore you, you can be as best as possibly possible. I’ve learned much about detoxification through fasting, raw food, the benefits of raw cacao, hydrotherapy, trusting always, fresh air, the power of greens and herbs, the simple power of taking enough sunshine, exercise, water, and rest.

Don’t give up. I am still on my health journey. I am looking for the best answers for my body, naturally…all the time. Yes I feel a lot, lot better when I live the way that I do! I’ve learned to manage my wellbeing, so as to experience the least dis-ease or discomfort! But I have yet to arrive to where I wan’t to be physically. To sleep pain-free every day and wake up leaping out of bed, I will continue to find a way! To feel that spring in my step! To bend backwards, stretching upwards, and touch a star…♡ ✴♡ ✴♡ ✴♡ ✴♡

Wishing you natures abundant blessings always, love for your day! x x Abigail 

 

Health Books I Love/d

Some of them are so old they’re falling apart and probably even out of print. My Health Books stash are precious…So much of what inspired me originally (up to 30 years) ago contained within their pages!

“Abigail Nelson’s book keep out” is written when I was only 13 inside one of my favourites ‘Back to Eden’ by Jethro Kloss. Paavo Airola has been another huge inspirational Author in my younger years, I have more of his books not pictured – such as ‘There is a Cure for Arthritis’ and ‘Are You Confused?’ I still love re-reading snippets from his ‘How To Get Well’ on occasion.

That little pale yellow paperback with the ‘Commandments’ drawn on the front is where I first devoured the SDA concepts of the ‘8 Laws of Health’…SOO INTERESTING in that they were so simple. Dynamic. I’ve framed my life around those! Don’t know if you’d find that one anywhere. Has little sketchy, quite funny illustrations all through it, heaps of tips on charcoal, natural remedies, herbs, fasting, but put together so comically. Perfect for a teenager as I was!

Lots more aren’t pictured like the book ‘Hunza’, ‘Councils on Diet and Foods’, ‘How to Not Die’ more recently, there’s another one I forget the name of and I can’t find atm but it was cool, a fasting book by Bragg, love fasting books or information. ‘Naked Chocolate’, which I actually read after I wrote ‘Model Chocolate‘! ‘Blue Zones’ which I wrote about recently with a short interview of Dan Beuttner, ‘Eat Right for Your Type’ and ‘801010’ are also in my library.

Right now I’m enjoying a book called ‘Water and Salt’ which I picked up from Oliver’s – a healthy fast food eats place on Aussie highways, just loving it…DO READ!

It’s all about how important hydration is, and as the title indicates, pure real salt of the Earth. Water is more important than anything at all after fresh clean air. Water is LIFE. Healing. Every cell.

What are you reading at the moment? Any life changing Health Books? I’d love to know…

Abigail xx