changemaker nominee??? shut up!
I never thought my obsession with vegan living and second-hand shopping would land me a Changemaker nomination… but here we are. The ITV bCreator Awards 2025 have officially shortlisted me (!!!) for Changemaker of the Year, and I’m still a bit stunned typing that out.
For anyone new here, I’m Nicole Whittle, better known online as Vegan Beauty Girl, and I use my corner of the internet to make sustainable, vegan living feel good. Not performative, not punishing… just genuinely good. Over the years, I’ve built a community around the idea of underconsumption: living with enough, questioning the systems that push us to buy more, and finding joy in choosing better.
So to be recognised as a Changemaker for doing what I love – helping people see that eco-friendly choices don’t have to feel beige, boring, or expensive – really means a lot. Most people online are still shouting “buy this,” but I’ve always wanted to show that the most powerful thing you can do is use what you already own.
The awards take place in London on Thursday 9th October, with ITV, Canon, and Lovehoney sponsoring… so you know it’s going to be a fun night. I’ll be in incredible company too, surrounded by people changing conversations around feminism, disability, and community care. Honestly, just to be part of that mix feels huge.
And yes – of course! – I’ll be sticking to my values and wearing something both second-hand and already in my wardrobe. Because honestly, what’s more on-brand for an underconsumption girlie than rewearing her way through awards season?
I’m also so happy to see my friends and fellow sustainability influencers Ben Brown and Ciara Doyle of @goinggreenmedia up for the Creator of the Year shortlist (for their work on filming solutions for our planet). I’ll definitely be cheering them on at awards night.
Whatever happens on the night, I’m just grateful to have a seat at the table – and to see sustainability and conscious living getting the recognition they deserve. This movement isn’t about perfection; it’s about reimagining what living well looks like. And if that means showing up to an awards show in a pre-loved dress, then count me in!