Christina Caradona, the French-American New Yorker, model, and influencer behind one of our favorite blogs, Trop Rouge wears her style as effortlessly as her tousled waves or one of her oversized cardigans. The self-described tomboy tracks her sartorial and other adventures across her wildly popular blog, Instagram and YouTube, where fans voraciously await posts on what she’s wearing, where she’s going, and more. She relishes a place where “all my interests are rolled up into one.”
Caradona seemed destined for this milieu. Her mother was a professional model and she herself had her first modeling gig when she was 15 for a French surfing magazine called Girl Power. Today, she shares her fashion, beauty, travel, and music favorites with her own distinctive lens. Curious, friendly and fun, Caradona is always game for something new.
When she wanted to explore plant-forward eating, she tried Sakara for the first time and agreed to share her story. We caught up with her in a rare moment of repose to get her thoughts on how a new approach to food shifted her outlook on mind, body, and soul and why she no longer relies on a scale to dictate how she feels.
Can you share with us your journey to where you are today?
I started Trop Rouge eight years ago when I moved from France to NYC. I was homesick and the blog started as a hobby. One day a friend suggested I start documenting my outfits and shooting more photos. It all occurred pretty naturally from there. I try not to rush anything. I take my time with all the clothes, places, and people I encounter.
What’s your approach to style?
Wear whatever makes you feel really good about yourself. I like to dress comfortably, like the woman that I want to be and the woman that I am. I like classic things that don’t go out of style. I want to look in my closet and see something I’ve had for years that I can continue wearing because there’s no date on it.
It’s how I feel in my mind when I wake up that sets the whole tone for the day and week, not some number on a scale.
Tell us about your experience with plant-forward eating?
I like to think that I am a pretty healthy eater. But after eating more plants, it's made me more conscious of what I'm putting in my body. I am paying attention to my body and figuring out what it needs and eating less out of habit. After three or four days I started to feel more clear-headed, I finally felt focused and with longer lasting energy. In the past, I had a hard time concentrating. I would wake up ready to start working and as the morning progressed my mind would begin to jump around. Another thing I noticed was my mood was stable. No more up and down with my emotions. I truly believe cutting out meat and sugar really helped with that. Being able to focus for a longer period of time has definitely helped me work with efficiency. I think the moment I realized that my new "diet" was working for me was when I found myself limiting my rest. Normally, I would become restless or tired around the 4 pm mark but with a more plant-based diet I didn't feel weighed down.
How has your relationship with your body evolved?
I'm much happier today. I didn't weigh myself before trying Sakara because I didn't want it to be about weight but rather how I felt. When I was younger I weighed myself every day, I became obsessed with a very specific number and that number limited what I ate and at times I wasn't eating much at all. Looking back, I know that wasn't healthy. I work in an industry where you are judged based on your looks And so many people fall victim to trying to lose weight in a very unhealthy way because we are programmed to think that skinny means beautiful and confident. Nowadays it's how I feel in my mind when I wake up that sets the whole tone for the day and week, not some number on a scale.
Aside from eating plant-forward, what’s inspiring you these days?
Inspiration comes from so many different places. Living in New York, I'm bombarded with exciting trends and ideas every day, it can be really motivating. At the same time, some of the content I'm most proud of comes from traveling and stepping out of the city. Even if it’s just for a day. A trip upstate to Hudson, NY or the Catskills can be really refreshing and fun. It also lets me come back to the city with a renewed sense of engagement.
What’s your morning routine?
Most mornings the first thing I do is put on one of my Spotify playlists. It's usually slow songs or jazz, depending on my mood. I'm a tea drinker (you won't find any coffee in my apartment), and I'll usually eat two soft boiled eggs. I'm huge on supplements like Skinfood and Nutrafol. I also try to start my day with Sakara's Detox Water Drops and a trip to the gym at least four times a week.
Do you have any grounding practices or rituals you love?
As much as I like to workout, I enjoy taking walks around my neighborhood, I don't listen to music. I just walk and clear my mind. It's something I love doing.
