Hey there! Tell everyone a bit about you.

Hey hey hey! I’m a married, 23 year old, ethical vegan living in Austin, Texas. I run the social media pages of the company I work for, and I model for and collaborate with photographers as a creative outlet. I have a passion for nature and experiencing new places, but my favorite thing to do is lay in bed with my husband and two cats, have a Harry Potter marathon, and eat all the snacks.

What got you hooked on veganism?

Earthlings. It’s a documentary about humankind's dependence on animals for economic purposes and the suffering animals endure for this to happen. I was only 15 minutes into the film when I decided to make a change. It’s honestly very graphic, but I really wanted to make myself see what I was contributing to. I always considered myself a huge animal lover, even though I grew up on a farm where we raised sheep and cows to be sent to slaughter. It wasn’t until I saw those graphic images and videos that I made the connection that animals are here WITH us, not here FOR us.

How has your life changed since making this dramatic lifestyle alteration?

In the first year, I lost 40 pounds without trying, making me a much more confident woman. I have so much more energy, the rosacea on my face has almost completely diminished, and I feel more compassion toward every living being.

Favorite quick-bite?

PLOW Burger or Li’l Nonnas’s in Austin. HANDS DOWN best vegan burger and pizza I’ve tried.

Can you recommend any food bloggers/at-home chefs to someone looking to get active in the kitchen?

I love @edgyveg because she doesn’t just do the “healthy” vegan stuff. She veganizes food like Big Macs and Chick-fil-A sandwiches. I’m also a fan of @bosh.tv because they have a huuuge variety of recipes.

What about reading material on a plant-based diet?

I highly suggest How Not to Die. It explains how the food we eat has the largest impact on our health and how to live your healthiest life.

Would you ever go back?

Absolutely not.

Only regret?

My only regret is that I didn’t go vegan sooner.

How do you manage to live out the life you envision for yourself through trials, disappointments, etc.?

You can’t get lost in your head and start doubting yourself. Through every setback or low point in my life, I make myself reevaluate where I’m at in life and decide what I need to do next, in order to be happy. Happiness is the key to living your best life, because, when you’re happy, things just seem to fall into place. I know that sounds super corny, but I promise that if you focus on the good things, only more good things will come. Once you start letting negativity fuel your thoughts, you will only see the bad parts of life. So I turn the “small wins” into big ones. I give myself room to grow in different aspects of life. I don’t limit myself. I dream. I talk about the things I love. And I do what I love, even if it means a whole career change. Follow her rad page on Instagram! @tarabaros SHOP WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN TARA’S MAKEUP COLLECTION: Activist Lip Gloss Sunny All Over Shimmer Makeup Diary Austin kit Extraordinary Flat Top Brush